The drawn out saga of AmaZulu football club's financial woes took another twist on Tuesday when a luxury vehicle and household furniture were seized from the Umhlanga home of the club's owner, Patrick Sokhela.
Sokhela's outstanding debt after buying the club last year stands at almost R27-million.
A Volvo 4x4, estimated to be worth R300 000, was driven off by the sheriff of the court after lawyers acting for Sokhela's creditor, Pat Malabela, once again turned to the courts following failed settlement talks.
Malabela's lawyer, Alex Eliott, confirmed that although settlement talks had resumed, a further public auction was scheduled to take place on February 21 at the offices of the sheriff in Durban North.
Two earlier attempts by Malabela to have AmaZulu auctioned were thwarted when Sokhela's legal team turned to the courts for relief.
Agri-businessman Sokhela bought the club for an estimated R40-million last August. In terms of the deal, AmaZulu moved from the First Division to the Premier League and Malabela's Dynamos dropped to the lower division. At the time, R10-million had been paid as a deposit. A further R2-million was paid. However, after further promises of payment were broken, Malabela approached the courts and got the league to attach AmaZulu's monthly grant of R300 000.
Tuesday morning, two deputy sheriffs waited at Sokhela's Milkwood Drive home as phone calls from lawyers held up proceedings. They began removing sofas and chairs in the afternoon.
While the furniture was being gathered and removed, AmaZulu pressed ahead with plans to revive their playing fortunes which have so far seen them languishing at the foot of the 16-team table for much of the season.
A Brazilian coach, Prof Julio Cesar Leal Junior, who recently conducted a coaching workshop, partly organised by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele's office, was recruited by the club until the end of the season to help them avoid relegation.
While the club's management was unavailable to comment on the outstanding debt, team administrator James Dlamini confirmed that AmaZulu had also signed Newcastle-born striker Prince Zulu from defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and were deciding whether to bring in an unnamed left back from Free State Stars in an effort to give the squad more depth.