No Bones with Jones can confirm that the South African Football Association CEO, Lydia Monyepao, has written to both Safa Cape Town and the Langa-Ndabeni LFA informing them that Adv. Sthembiso Mdladla, will preside over their arbitration matter.
Our website recently reported that Langa -Ndabeni LFA had its first victory by forcing the elections, which were scheduled for Sunday, to be stopped to allow the Arbitrator to step in as there are quite a few discrepancies that do not sit well with the LFA.
So, Safa Cape Town and the Langa-based LFA have now been “advised that in accordance with Article 81.4 of the SAFA Disciplinary Code, we hereby appoint Adv. Mdladla to be the Arbitrator in the above-mentioned matter,” was the correspondence sent to the above-mentioned parties.
The letter further read: “We take this opportunity to inform you that Adv. Sthembiso Mdladla will accordingly preside in this matter on 18 February 2026, @10H00, Virtual Hearing, Ms Teams,” is the correspondence from Safa National.”
Now, these are the very latest developments to emerge in the battle between the custodians of football and one of its members. Never in the history of football in the Cape Metropole, was an Arbitrator needed to rule over an electoral process, let alone football matters – that is how polluted the game has become and it is indeed an indictment of the so-called football leaders in the region.
Speaking about leaders, shocking news which emanated from the AGM on Sunday is that the boss of football in the region, Bennett Bailey, was allegedly very aggressive and unruly towards his rival, Eric Gum, who stood his ground well, not succumbing to Bailey’s tactics, as the latter is feeling the heat.
This unprofessional behaviour by Bailey in full view of his subordinates, who were appalled by their leader’s actions, did Bailey very little favours. Needless to say, some of his closest allies are now starting to have second thoughts on supporting him.
No Bones with Jones has also established that these allies even contacted Gum after the meeting to apologize on Bailey’s behalf – so disgusted were they by what they witnessed at the meeting.
This ‘fight’ between Bailey and Gum is for the presidency of the Cape’s Football Mother body. Bailey is seeking a third term unopposed – and with Gum in the picture, things are really getting sticky for Bailey.
Meanwhile, the Sport Stepping Stones (SSS) foundation is also still pursuing and in fact, tightening the screws in their legal battle with the region regarding the ‘missing’ funds of the Football for Humanity initiative.
It was mutually agreed upon between Safa CT and SSS at the Rondebosch Golf Course that the proceeds of this event must be split amongst the three entities.
This subsequently never materialised as no one besides Safa CT were remunerated, which is why SSS is now seeking legal intervention.
It also begs the question: “What happened to the money seeing that the region was in position to be charitable after they donated R100 000 to the Gift of the Givers late last year.
One Response
It is my opinion that Bennet Bailey needs to be removed as his is part of an era that has been keeping our youth from playing in the Mr Price Schools League. We need more open minded persons that see the bigger picture of reviving schools soccer. We need children on the soccer fields and not in court or worse. Bring back the Mr Price Schools League and see our youth become more empowered.