Why Pitso's wife lost Downs racism case

Court says her agency, not her, was involved

- By Ngwako Malatji

The Johannesburg High Court has dismissed Pitso Mosimane's wife and agent Moira Tlhagale's claims that Mamelodi Sundowns discriminated against her simply because she was a black woman.

In a judgment delivered recently, Judge Shanaaz Mia said Mamelodi Sundowns could not have possibly discriminated against her based on her race and gender because the club did not sign a contract with her as a natural person but with her entity, Moira Tlhagale Sports Marketing and Management (TSM), which is a juristic person.

Delivering the judgment, Mia said that in seeking to demonstrate that the agreement was unfair and unreasonable, Tlhagale testified that she was treated differently because she is a black woman and Mosimane's wife.

"She stated that she did not receive a commission after negotiating the agreements between Mr Mosimane and Sundowns in 2012 and 2016.

"In her view, any other intermediary in her position would have been compensated.

"To support this, she emphasised that white male intermediaries were not treated in the same manner," she said.

She further attributed the treatment she received to what she believed was an instruction issued by former club owner and now CAF president Patrice Motsepe, Mia stated.