PSL boss arrested and charged for money laundering involving millions of rands ahead of Nedbank Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs & Orlando Pirates

Premier Soccer League (PSL) General Manager Andile 'Ace' Ncobo and his wife have been charged in the Bellville Magistrates Court on Monday over a case of money laundering involving millions of rands.

The charges against the PSL boss involve a school project in Eastern Cape Town where, according to Hawks spokeswoman Zinzi Hani, Ncobo and his wife submitted false documents to PetroSA alleging that Gangatha Junior Secondary School needed development funding. 

The allegations against the celebrated Mzansi ex-Fifa official state that they forged trust deeds and donor letters to support their request. It is alleged that PetroSA was misled into transferring R13 million to a bank account linked to Gangatha Projects.

This project is reportedly unregistered and is controlled by Ncobo. The associated trust, King’s Gangatha Building Trust, was not registered, and the signatures submitted are allegedly false.

According to Hawks, Ncobo and his wife allegedly used fake documents, invented organisations and laundered money through private accounts.

“They submitted proposals supported by forged trust deeds and donor documentation, creating a false impression that Gangatha Projects, a non-registered entity, was a legitimate channel for school development,” Hani said, as per IOL. 

"PetroSA, relying on these presentations, paid R13 million to Gangatha JSS. The trust deed associated with King’s Gangatha Building Trust was not registered, and the signatures were allegedly falsified.

“The scheme was executed through the submission of falsified documents, creation of fictitious or unregistered entities, and subsequent laundering of the proceeds through a personal account,” Hani added. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Eric Ntabazalila explained the organisations that are allegedly involved in the said crime.

"The money laundering charge relates to R15.19 million being distributed to bank accounts of Gangatha Projects, Eseswe Projects, Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute, and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Development ILE PR.

"Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records reveal that Gangatha Projects was not a registered entity. Ace Ncobo Development ILE Projects Close Corporation was registered, and the accused had a 100% interest in it. Eseswe Projects and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute were not registered entities," Ntabazalila said. 

Ncobo is reportedly set to take part in the Nedbank Cup final involving Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

"However, the defence highlighted that Ncobo, a current Premier Soccer League (PSL) general manager, was due to be involved in a PSL national event on Saturday, 10 May, and detaining him would cause disruption," Daily Sun reports.

In his defence, the former Fifa official said he was not a flight risk and asked the court to set bail at R5,000, while his wife is said to have requested R1,000 bail.

However, the court set their bails at R50,000 for Ngcobo and R30, 000 for his wife, respectively.

Ncobo is a celebrated retired match official and is the winner of the PSL Referee of the Season in 2002-03 and 2003-04. He was also named the recipient of the award again in 2005-06, where he was joint winner with Abdul Ebrahim before winning it for the fourth time in the 2007-08 season.

The PSL appointed Ncobo the general manager in the football department in February 2023, hoping to tap into his experience and knowledge at the administrative level.

The case was postponed until May 29 this year as investigations continue.

This is a case that will surely be followed keenly by Mzansi soccer lovers, given Ngobo's stature in the football world. However, for Ncobo, as is the case with many people, eyes are on the cup final.