#LetsFixSAFootball: Siwelele United move highlights South Africa's troubling club ownership trend

IOL News

22-07-2025

Seema Lehlohonolo was announced as the head coach of Siwelele United this pat weekend. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Calvin le John, the son of South Africa's Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, has added his name to a long list of businessmen who have followed their passion for football by acquiring the status of an elite league club.
In purchasing SuperSport United — whom he has since renamed Siwelele United — Le John follows in the footsteps of numerous wealthy individuals who have taken advantage of South African football's disturbingly lax club ownership policies, which have contributed to the demise of several historically significant teams.
#LetsFixSAFootball
Image: Independent Media
Le John's decision to take over SuperSport's status is actually an attempt to resurrect Bloemfontein Celtic, a club that vanished from the professional ranks after its status was sold. Unable to reclaim the original name, he has opted for 'Siwelele United FC', adopting the moniker most associated with Celtic in a bid to attract the club's passionate fanbase.
But the critical question now is: which path will Le John follow?
Will he emulate Patrice Motsepe, under whose stewardship Mamelodi Sundowns have become a continental powerhouse?
For the city. For the people.
Welcome, Coach 💚⚪#SiweleleFC pic.twitter.com/gEfW9GgLKQ — Siwelele Football Club (@Siwelele_FC) July 20, 2025
Or will he discover, like Max Tshabalala — who once owned Celtic before selling the club — that football in South Africa is rarely a lucrative business?
Matshelane Mamabolo reflects on the chequered history of South African club takeovers and how they have often ended in disappointment or outright disaster.
Bidvest Wits to Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila
For close on a century, Wits University FC were a pillar of South African football, achieving milestones such as winning the 1978 Mainstay Cup by defeating Kaizer Chiefs in the first integrated domestic final.
Wits produced top talents, including Gary Bailey, who went on to play for Manchester United, and remained competitive over the decades, claiming titles such as the BP Top 8, JPS, Coca-Cola Cup, and Nedbank Cup.
Their final flourish came under coach Gavin Hunt, with a Premiership title to their name. But when corporate sponsors Bidvest pulled out of football, the club's status was sold to businessman Lawrence Mulaudzi, who rebranded it as Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM). His reign lasted just seven months — player salaries went unpaid, and he soon sold the franchise to what became Marumo Gallants. And so, a giant of the local game quietly disappeared.
Mpumalanga Black Aces to Cape Town City
Founded in 1937 and originally known as Witbank Black Aces, Amazayoni played an iconic role in South African football, producing legends such as Thomas 'Junior' Ngobe, Steve 'Disco' Makua, Amos 'Heel Extension' Mkhari and goalkeeper Cyprian 'Mahala' Mainame.
They were runners-up in the 1983 Mainstay Cup final (a controversial loss to Moroka Swallows) and lifted the BobSave Super Bowl in 1993 with a dramatic injury-time winner against Kaizer Chiefs.
The club underwent multiple ownership changes before John Comitis purchased their franchise in 2016, relocated it to Cape Town and rebranded it as Cape Town City. The club made a strong start in the elite league, winning the Telkom Knockout in their debut season, but were relegated via the play-offs at the end of the most recent campaign.
Bloemfontein Celtic to Royal AM
Doomed from the outset, Royal AM's purchase of Bloemfontein Celtic's status was shrouded in controversy. After failing to secure promotion through conventional means, Shaun Mkhize took the oft-travelled route and bought Celtic's status from a financially struggling Max Tshabalala.
However, the union of showbiz and professional football quickly soured.
Mkhize's failure to honour Samir Nurković's contract resulted in a Fifa transfer ban. Matters deteriorated further when the club was sanctioned by the South African Revenue Service, leading to suspension and eventual expulsion from the league last season.
It was a deeply embarrassing episode for the PSL, who ended the campaign one team short — and a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter regulations around club sales and ownership.
Moroka Swallows FC to Marumo Gallants
Before the formation of Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows were one half of the original Soweto Derby, alongside Orlando Pirates.
The Dube Birds were a powerhouse of South African football and played in the top flight until their relegation in the 2014/15 season. They had an illustrious cup pedigree, winning the FA Cup under all its iterations — Mainstay Cup, BobSave Super Bowl, Absa Cup and Nedbank Cup — and claimed the Top 8 title three times.
Having fallen into the amateur ranks, a resurrection attempt was led by former Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, who acquired the status of Maccabi FC. He could not initially use the Swallows name due to outstanding debts under FIFA supervision. Once the branding was restored, the revived Swallows competed admirably at first.
However, when Lesufi became Gauteng Premier and stepped away from the club, its fortunes waned. Financial struggles meant players went unpaid, and Swallows could not complete their fixtures in 2023. The club eventually sold its status to Marumo Gallants.