Orlando Pirates Secures Court Order After R43m in Transfers Raises Questions

• Orlando Pirates has turned to the High Court after financial transactions raised questions about money moving through accounts linked to a former employee
• The club is seeking to safeguard millions of rand while investigators examine transactions spanning nearly a decade
• A court order requires a bank to preserve funds as the legal dispute unfolds, but the allegations have not been proven

Orlando Pirates has obtained temporary court protection for funds worth more than R20.2 million linked to transactions involving its former finance manager, Darryl Brook Joselowsky. The legal action follows the flagging of transfers exceeding R43 million during a review of the club’s financial records.

On 22 September 2026, the Johannesburg High Court ordered Standard Bank to maintain a minimum combined balance of R20,269,420.75 across four accounts associated with Joselowsky. The bank was also instructed to hand over electronic and physical account statements, including details of the recipients of outgoing transfers.

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The ruling allows Pirates to preserve the disputed funds while the matter proceeds through the courts. However, it is an interim measure and does not establish that fraud occurred or that any party is liable. The respondents may return to court to request that the order be amended or set aside.

R43m in transfers flagged in Orlando Pirates investigation

According to TimesLIVE, the club's commercial manager, Mpumelelo Khoza, said concerns emerged in July 2026 while he was reviewing management accounts.

The club's court papers allege that it transferred R43,166,873 from its accounts into four flagged accounts between 29 September 2016 and 25 August 2026.

A forensic analysis allegedly identified R20,269,420.75 as unauthorised diversions. The affidavit also identifies 742 payments totalling R8,559,293.30 that allegedly involved misleading beneficiary descriptions.

The club claims the transactions included payments recorded under descriptions resembling legitimate supplier or rental expenses, although the amounts did not match expected costs.

It argued that urgent action was needed to prevent the disputed funds from being moved before recovery proceedings could be pursued.

Orlando Pirates explains why it sought urgent intervention

The club's affidavit alleges that some payments were recorded using fictitious supplier descriptions and that reimbursements were redirected. One example involved an electronic transfer referencing a laptop purchase, which the club claims was paid separately through its petty-cash process.

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Orlando Pirates argued that the disputed money could be moved between local and offshore accounts, complicating recovery efforts.

Club spokesperson Thandi Morafe stressed that the application should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing.

“The application is a precautionary step to protect the club's funds. It is not a finding of wrongdoing and should not be interpreted as one,” she said.

Morafe added that the individual concerned was cooperating with the process and that the club's daily operations would continue as normal.

The case remains unresolved. The court order preserves the funds while the parties pursue the legal process, and the allegations against Joselowsky remain untested.

Orlando Pirates face another major test in CAF competition

Briefly News also reported that Orlando Pirates and Durban City drew tough group-stage fixtures in their respective CAF competitions after Wednesday's draw in Egypt.

Pirates will face Morocco's RS Berkane, Tanzania's Simba SC and Cameroon's Colombe Sportive in the CAF Champions League. Durban City, meanwhile, will make their continental group-stage debut against AS FAR, Azam FC and Al Ahli Tripoli in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Source: Briefly News