PSL silent on action against GM Andile Ncobo amid fraud charges

THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) remains mum on any action it will take against its general manager, Andile ‘Ace’ Ncobo, who faces charges of fraud and money laundering.

Ncobo and his wife Salomie appeared at the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday where they were granted bail of R50 000 and R30 000 respectively.

Ncobo, who has been a host on the Extra Time TV show on Supersport, DSTV channel 202, for the past 13 years, has since announced his resignation from the show.

According to the prosecution, the couple is accused of orchestrating a scheme to unlawfully secure funds from the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa SOC Limited (PetroSA) for their personal benefit, as well as for relatives and organisations in which they held a financial stake.

PetroSA operated a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative, designed to distribute financial assistance to under-resourced schools, non-profit institutions, and disaster relief efforts. The initiative primarily supported causes related to education, healthcare, community development, and environmental sustainability.

In 2008, Gangatha Junior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape applied for funding from PetroSA to improve its infrastructure, including new classrooms, labs, and sports facilities. PetroSA approved a R13 million donation, and an unregistered entity called King’s Gangatha Building Trust was set up to handle the project. Ncobo allegedly took charge of the construction from November 2008 to September 2009, despite not being officially appointed or authorised by the school to do so.

The Hawks had been investigating the case for over a decade.

While Ncobo announced his resignation from the Extra Time TV show on Supersport, he also said he was innocent.

On his Facebook page, Ncobo shared a message with his viewers. 

“For the past 13 years, we've been together every Monday evening. We developed our love-hate relationship as real football people always do. You loved me when my analysis favoured your club, and hated me the very next week when it did not. Through it all, you were educated on the intricacies of refereeing decisions,” he wrote. 

He further explained what he did when he got out of the courtroom. 

“Sadly, the very first thing I did when I stepped out of court was to call my SuperSport Football boss and informed him that I will immediately cease to be part of the show in the foreseeable future, as I do not want my personal circumstances to tarnish the valuable role that the show plays within the football ecosystem, as well as respect for the Supersport brand,” Ncobo said. 

He remained adamant that he is innocent. 

“Innocent as I know I am, innocent as the constitution of the country so dictates until a competent court finds to the contrary, I thought best to make this decision.

"I will henceforth join the millions of you who watch the show, as a viewer too. Please do keep supporting the show,” he wrote. 

The PSL did not respond to questions about any possible action against Ncobo, including whether he would be suspended.

The couple is expected back in court on May 29. 

Cape Times