SAFA and the South African government have stepped in to rescue detained Marumo Gallants officials who are being held as collateral for an unpaid bill of US$37 000.
Marumo Gallants’ manager Rufus Matsena and physiotherapist Amos Dina Dhlomo are ‘held hostage’ at the Alfakhama Hotel Suites in Benghazi precisely 16 days after playing Al Akhdar in the CAF Confederation Cup.
In order to book flights during Ramadan, Marumo Gallants owner Abram Sello arranged with Alfakhama Hotel owner Dr Ali Elzargha.
Last November, the DStv Premiership outfit played a continental club fixture in Libya and used the same hotel.
Marumo Gallants chairman could not fulfill promise
As part of the agreement, Dr Elzargha would arrange and pay the team’s return flights to Libya for their match against Al Akhdar.
Sello would then repay Dr Elzargha’s dues upon arrival in the North African country. However, the Marumo Gallants chairman could not fulfil his promise, prompting the two businessmen to agree on Matsena and Dhlomo being used as collateral.
As a precaution, Dr Elzargha has kept the two men’s passports to ensure they do not flee, while Sello argues he has been overcharged.
Earlier this week, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Corporation [DIRCO] said it was assisting the two.
“Holding people hostage is a criminal offence, and the South African government will not allow our nationals to be kidnapped or held against their will. We are confident they will soon be back with their families,” said DIRCO official Clayson Monyela.
The Libyan businessman responded, saying all he wanted was that they “pay the money, that’s all.”
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Due to the lack of an embassy in Libya, the government has to engage the mission in Tunisia, a neighbouring country.
South African Football Association [SAFA] general manager Mzwandile Maforvane confirmed on Thursday that a meeting had been scheduled to resolve the issue.
Dr Elzargha, Sello, SAFA, and DIRCO will have a virtual meeting to map out the next steps.
Meanwhile, the Limpopo side was drawn against Pyramids FC of Egypt in the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup.