A striking aspect which – on numerous occasions – surfaced during Safa Western Cape’s legal battles, is that they shockingly don’t think twice to undermine the judiciary system – as is the case with the Arbitration case they lost to Santos FC recently.
Furthermore, it is obvious that the province’s administration, under the leadership of Tankiso Modipa,(pictured) doesn’t do its homework and shoots straight from the hip!
So, instead of accepting the Arbitrators ruling to reinstate Santos back into the Nedbank Cup as well as the ABC Motsepe League, the province is now on a mission to appeal this decision which begs the question, where does the money come from to pay for their legal fees?
Look, it’s no secret that the province’s coffeirs are depleted as they couldn’t even pay their member clubs their respective grants owed to them for a couple of seasons now.
Let’s also not forget that Safa WC is also liable for the costs of the Arbitration which amounts to a couple of hundred thousand, which is also probably why they are so desperate to get this overturned –
Needless to say, it’s pretty obvious that the province’s chairman, Tanksio Modipa, is so hellbent on getting his ‘revenge’ that his desperation blinds and clouts his logic as well as his judgement.
Well, luckily for Modipa, No Bones with Jones has contacts in high places, therefore our website can supply him with a quick rundown on what he needs to cough up in order to appeal the Arbitrators award.
Mr Modipa, this is what your organisation is looking at should you go ahead with your application – and oh, this one comes free of charge.
Filing Fee:
The minimum cost for referring a matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is CHF 1,000 (Swiss francs), which converts to roughly R20,000–R21,000 South African Rands.
CAS requires a non-refundable filing fee of CHF 1,000 for any matter referred to them. This is the baseline cost just to lodge a case.
Additional Costs beyond the filing fee:
Arbitration costs, i.e. panel fees, administrative fees = CHF3,000 per day (+-R61,500.00 per day)
Legal representation costs = CHF300 – CHF600 per hour (+-R6,000.00 – R12,000.00 per hour)
Cost Drivers:
- Complexity of the Case: Disciplinary disputes (e.g., doping bans) are often more expensive than contractual disputes.
- Number of Hearings: A single hearing is cheaper; multiple hearings or appeals escalate costs.
- International Travel: CAS hearings are usually in Lausanne, Switzerland. Travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses add significantly.
- Specialization Premium: Lawyers with prior CAS experience or who have argued precedent-setting cases command higher fees. One lawyer charged SAFA CHF 10,000.00 for just one consultation and an opinion 7 years ago.
Risks & Other Considerations
- Hidden Costs: Translation, expert witnesses, and administrative fees can add tens of thousands of Rands.
- Funding Options: Some individuals (especially athletes) rely on their federations, sponsors, or legal aid programmes (e.g., FIFA or CAS Legal Aid) to cover CAS costs.
- Outcome Uncertainty: Even with top lawyers, CAS decisions may be unpredictable, so high costs don’t guarantee success.
So, the province really needs to think twice this time round as it appears that they will bite off a lot more than what they can chew should they go ahead with the appeal.
