Outcry as Msunduzi Municipality appeal court ruling on Royal AM deal

THE decision by the Msunduzi Municipality to appeal a court judgment that had struck down its sponsorship deal with the Royal AM football club has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition parties and ratepayers.

- THAMI MAGUBANE

In August, the Pietermaritzburg High Court had found the agreement to be unlawful, invalid and had reviewed and set it aside.

It further ordered that all payments made to the football club under the sponsorship deal must be repaid with interest.

The DAs Ross Strachan stated that the party in Msunduzi has noted with dismay the municipality's filing of an application for leave to appeal the recent judgment. Royal AM, which was expelled from the Premier Soccer League earlier this year, was cited as a respondent in the case but did not participate in the matter.

Strachan explained that the filing of an application for leave to appeal meant that the original court order was automatically suspended, further delaying justice and accountability.