Players drag Orapa United to labour
Thato Kala | Thursday January 8, 2015 11:38
They are battling to get their outstanding signing on fees from the club. The Labour Department will hear the case of Kagiso Tutuwe next Thursday while that of Shabane Nonde is scheduled for January 20.
Tutuwe claims he is owed P20,000, while Nonde is demanding P10,000.
Two other players – Qinani Sibanda and Emmanuel Thakadu – who both claim they are owed P15,000 have confirmed they will be taking the same route to recover the money.
The players received their letters of dismissal shortly before the League’s Christmas break without notice. Apart from demanding the said monies, the players are contesting what they term unfair dismissal.
“We have been sent back and forth when we inquire about our monies. Everyone seems to point us to the same person, the vice chairman (Kenny Nkape) but we seem not to reach an agreement over the issue, so the only thing is to take the matter to labour,” said one of the players.
Last month, Sibanda also said he was left with no choice but to take the legal route over the dismissal.
Sibanda, who is currently in his native Zimbabwe, said he has been paid all his salary. The players have questioned why their letters of termination do not state any reason why they were dismissed.
The club’s vice chairman, Nkape has declined to speak to the media about the issue.
He referred all questions to the club’s public relations officer, Tebatso Hule whose phone rang unanswered.
Meanwhile, the players have accused the club of misusing money meant for their signing on fees.
“Management is using players to steal the company’s monies. We suspect they have the monies to pay us. The money has bee misused,” said one of the players.
Nkape declined to respond to the accusations that officials have misappropriated money.