TS Galaxy Queens wage dispute escalated to CCMA by players’ union

TS Galaxy Queens are facing legal action over unpaid player salaries after the Football Union of South Africa (FUSA) referred the dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

The Hollywoodbets Super League club has come under mounting pressure following repeated complaints about outstanding wages and the departures of members of its coaching staff.

FUSA says TS Galaxy’s management failed to respond to its attempts to intervene, prompting the union to pursue the matter through the CCMA. The dispute has also caused disruption to the club’s season, with several senior players refusing to travel for or take part in a crucial fixture against Diepkloof Ladies.

The union has further raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding assistant coach Fikile Sithole and fitness trainer Lerato Matsetela. According to FUSA, both staff members approached management to ask about money they were owed and were then told “not to bother” reporting for work.

The worsening dispute has moved beyond tension within the club and into a formal labour process, with the club’s executive facing the prospect of further legal proceedings.

FUSA secretary general Taelo Motloung confirmed the union’s decision in response to a KickOff query.

“The players have still not been paid, so we are taking a legal route. We are taking the matter to CCMA,” he said.

Club points to financial pressure

TS Galaxy Queens chairlady Dudu Sukazi has defended the club, arguing that the problems confronting the team reflect wider structural difficulties in South African women’s football.

The club’s management has previously said the R130 000 grant provided by SAFA over a nine-month period is not enough to run a professional squad. It says the shortfall leaves the club carrying substantial operational losses in an effort to maintain its standards.

FUSA, however, has rejected the suggestion that those financial pressures justify the failure to pay players and staff. The union says footballers should not be expected to bear the cost of broader financial problems in the sport.

Its referral to the CCMA is intended to secure payment of the salaries that remain outstanding and to protect the labour rights of South African athletes.

The dispute follows TS Galaxy Queens’ explanation of its decision to part ways with members of its technical team, while the club now faces increased scrutiny over both its finances and its treatment of players and staff.