PSL outfit Marumo Gallants have been ordered to pay former Moroka Swallows coach Musa Nyatama a whopping R5,2 million for unlawfully red-carding him from his cushy job.
Daily Sun can exclusively reveal that Gallants have been ordered by the PSL Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to pay the former Chippa United assistant coach R5,2 million for unfair dismissal.
The staggering amount includes outstanding salaries that Swallows owed him for several years.
The startling details are contained in the award which the DRC issued in March 2025. The award was kept hush-hush after Gallants indicated that it intended to file an appeal.
Unpaid wages and broken promises
In the award papers, which we have seen, the DRC said Nyatama was employed by Swallows as a footballer with a salary of R150 000 in June 2020.
He was later appointed as interim coach of Swallows while the club's new coach, Dylan Kerr, was arranging his visa to take up employment with the team.
The Dube Birds breached Nyatama's contract by failing to pay his full salary for the months of September, October, and December 2021, owing him a total of R160 000.
Swallows also owed Nyatama R320 000 after failing to pay his full salary between February and December 2022.
On or about 20 January 2023, Swallows and Nyatama entered into a written contract appointing him as a coach from 1 February 2024 to 30 June 2027, with a salary of R120 000 per month.
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The salary was set to increase to R130 000 from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. He was to earn the same salary from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
The committee said Swallows breached the contract by failing to pay his full salary of R130 000 for the months of January to May 2023.
They also failed to pay his full salary for July 2024, amounting to R130 000. This brought the total outstanding amount to R730 000.
Gallants inherit the debt
The committee further stated that in June 2024, Marumo purchased the Premier Soccer League (PSL) status of Swallows as a going concern.
The committee said Gallants, as the successor to Swallows, is therefore liable and responsible for any and all debts Swallows incurred before the purchase and transfer of the PSL franchise.
The committee said that since the sale of Swallows, Nyatama had attempted to contact Gallants to ascertain the fulfilment of his duties as an employee.
"Marumo, however, advised him to refrain from attending at work until such time as he receives feedback from the club, which has not been forthcoming. Applicant then took it upon himself to attempt to attend training; however, he had been completely excluded from Marumo's plans. Marumo had made it impossible for him to comply with his obligations in terms of the contract," said the committee.
On or about 7 August 2024, Nyatama's lawyers sent a letter of demand to Gallants for his outstanding salaries in the amount of R730 000.
He also demanded that Marumo advise him where he must report for duty and permit him to do so by close of business on 12 August 2024.
Marumo did not respond to the letter of demand, forcing him to file a complaint with the DRC.
R5,2 million payout
In the complaint, Nyatama demanded R116 289.80 for his leave days, over R1,4 million in compensation, and R730 000 in outstanding salaries.
He also demanded R1 320 000, which consists of his R120 000 per month salary for his July 2025 to June 2026 contract.
Nyatama further sought R1 560 000, which consists of R130 000 per month for his contract from July 2026 to June 2027. The DRC ruled in his favour.
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"The respondent is ordered to pay applicant the sum of R5 286 289.80," read the award.
Gallants spokesman Sello Nduna said they won't comment because the matter is sub judice as it is before the court of law.
On Sunday, Daily Sun published a story stating that Swallows chairman David Mogashoa has taken Gallants to court for failing to settle the outstanding R13 million of the R40 million they charged for the sale of the team.
