Share

Kings players, staff still waiting on unpaid salaries

accreditation
Kings v Connacht (Gallo Images)
Kings v Connacht (Gallo Images)

Ten days after they were originally meant to receive their salaries, Southern Kings players, staff and coaches have yet to be paid for the month of April.

Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021

Last week, Kings management sent a letter promising that the salaries would be paid by Thursday, 30 April but that deadline came and went without the players getting paid.

A source in the organisation confirmed that staff and players had yet to be paid as of Tuesday morning and that they had been promised that salaries would be paid on Tuesday.

"We were told yesterday (Monday) that today (Tuesday) was going to be the pay day and they were going to make the transfer this morning," the source that spoke on condition of anonymity told Sport24.

"We are all still waiting."

In a City Press report over the weekend, Kings equity partners the Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World and the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) blamed each other for the delay in staff payments. In the report, the EPRU was accused of intercepting the municipality payment, claiming it was owed money by the private consortium.

The wrangle over the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality R6 million bailout had apparently resulted in delays in the funds being transferred to the franchise.

According to another source, this would be the second amount of R6 million paid out to the Kings in the same financial year and that the Kings had originally asked for a R10 million bailout - to which the municipality responded by assuring only R6 million could be paid.

The amateur wing EPRU's president Andre Rademan released a statement on Tuesday calling the franchise's failure to pay staff and players "not only unacceptable but also regrettable in these circumstances that we are facing."

"EPRU has requested an urgent stakeholders meeting has been requested within seven days to try address these important matters," said Rademan.

"Furthermore, the union has in no circumstances tried to block or encourage the non-payment on Southern Kings from the municipality as it has been reported out there. After the stakeholders meeting, EPRU will hold a press conference on way forward."

Players union, MyPlayers, are also said to be meeting with Kings management regarding the unpaid salaries but they remained tight-lipped as to the details of the discussions.

This is a developing story ...

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Fixtures
Fri 29 Mar 24 21:35 PM (SAST)
Leinster
Leinster
Bulls
Bulls
RDS Arena, TBC
SuperSport
Fri 29 Mar 24 21:35 PM (SAST)
Dragons
Dragons
Zebre
Zebre
Rodney Parade
SuperSport
Sat 30 Mar 24 15:00 PM (SAST)
Sharks
Sharks
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
SuperSport
Results
Sat 23 Mar 24
Dragons
Dragons 10
Bulls
Bulls 31
Sat 23 Mar 24
Zebre
Zebre 7
Leinster
Leinster 31
Sat 23 Mar 24
Connacht
Connacht 14
Lions
Lions 38
Logs
Team
P
W
PTS
Team Logo
1. Leinster
12
10
49
Team Logo
2. Vodacom Bulls
12
9
45
Team Logo
3. Glasgow Warriors
12
9
44
Team Logo
4. Munster
12
7
39