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Suspended Black Leopards boss David Thidiela will be summoned to appear before the PSL disciplinary committee early next month.
Many people may be wondering what happened to Thidiela after he was placed on “precautionary suspension” by the PSL more than a month ago following his tirade against referee Victor Hlungwani in September. Thidiela also insulted Hlungwani using tribal references.
Read: Uncouth Thidiela must be banned for life, finish and klaar
PSL prosecutor Nande Becker told City Press on Friday that Thidiela was initially scheduled to appear before the league’s tribunal last month, but he cited ill health as the reason for being unable to attend the October 9 hearing.
“We received a medical certificate stating that Mr Thidiela had been booked off sick until December 7. Depending on the availability of the witnesses, I am ready to proceed with the case on December 10,” said Becker.
While the disciplinary committee granted Thidiela the postponement, Becker registered his disappointment at Leopards, as a club, for failing to attend the hearing last month.
“They [Black Leopards] did not bother to rock up and were charged for disrespecting the committee. Clubs are liable for the actions of their officials. They [Leopards] failed to stop Mr Thidiela from intimidating the match official; an alternative charge is that of bringing the league into disrepute,” said Becker.
The Limpopo businessperson, who is also a PSL executive committee member, was recorded insulting Hlungwani after Leopards’ 1-0 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic at Thohoyandou Stadium on September 16.
The audio clip went viral on social media and it led to a national outcry, with various Limpopo-based organisations – including political party the Gazankulu Liberation Congress and the Vatsonga/Machangani Royal Leaders Unity – threatening to take Thidiela to task.
Despite his public apology, the SA Human Rights Commission in Limpopo said it had launched an investigation into the incident.
The commission told City Press on Friday that it had met with the beleaguered club boss to discuss the matter, and he was cooperating.
The commission’s provincial manager, Victor Mavhidula, said:
Mavhidula said the commission, together with Thidiela, had tabled proposals on how to remedy the situation, but he could not reveal them because both parties still needed to sign the documents.
Gazankulu Liberation Congress president Thembani Chabane said the party opened a case of crimen injuria and intimidation against Thidiela with the Thohoyandou Police Station in September. The Limpopo-based party also took the matter to the human rights commission.
“We want to see justice in this matter because our people are hurting. Our chiefs in Tzaneen had invited Mr Thidiela to a meeting in September, but he did not pitch, saying he was not fit to attend. He did the same by not pitching to a meeting with Vatsonga/Machangani Royal Leaders Unity,” said Chabane, adding that the party would not let the matter die down.
When contacted for comment, Hlungwani, a Fifa-accredited match official, referred City Press to the PSL and Safa.
Despite initial threats to institute disciplinary measures against Thidiela, Safa has been silent on the matter.
Safa’s acting chief executive, Russell Paul, said:
If found guilty, Thidiela faces a potentially harsh sanction as he has already been found guilty of abusing a match official. This occurred when Leopards were still campaigning in the NFD.
The incident took place during an NFD league match between Leopards and Royal Eagles at Thohoyandou Stadium in December 2016.
Thidiela was fined R200 000, of which he paid R50 000. The remaining R150 000, along with a four-match ban, was suspended for two years.
In addition, his club was handed a R200 000 suspended fine with the rider that Leopards not be found guilty of a similar offence for two years.
