Delinquent soccer club boss seeks to revive $1.2bn gas deal with PetroSA
Fact-Check Results
“In December 2023, Shumani Lawrence Mulaudzi signed a $1.2-billion (R20.3-billion) deal with state-owned PetroSA, appointing his company Equator Holdings to fund and build pipelines and other infrastructure for a future gas industry.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm or refute the claim about Shumani Lawrence Mulaudzi's deal with PetroSA
“Four months later, though, Equator was liquidated for failing to pay a R725,000 debt to a soccer player.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify the liquidation claim or its alleged reasons
“The liquidation application had been granted without his knowledge, he claimed, and against the wrong company.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to assess the validity of Mulaudzi's claims about the liquidation process
“The winding up of the company was set aside by the high court on 23 October 2025, Mulaudzi’s lawyer confirmed.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm the court's reversal of the liquidation on 23 October 2025
“According to court papers, Mulaudzi lied to the court to escape liquidation and reached a cash settlement with the soccer player and liquidators.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify the court documents' allegations against Mulaudzi
“The NSL ruled that TTM should pay Jampies three months’ salary (R105,000) and damages (R725,000) after failing to pay him.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm the NSL's ruling on TTM's payment obligations
“Mulaudzi claimed TTM’s relegation from the National First Division in 2023 caused the club to lose its grant funding, preventing payment of debts.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify Mulaudzi's claim about TTM's relegation causing funding loss
“NSL records showed TTM’s legal entity was Equator Holdings, the same company Mulaudzi bid for PetroSA’s gas deal.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm NSL records linking TTM to Equator Holdings
“TTM’s lawyer’s letter to De Bruyn stated TTM’s legal name was Equator Holdings, contradicting Mulaudzi’s claim of a clerical error.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to verify the lawyer's letter contradicting Mulaudzi's clerical error claim
“Mulaudzi claimed he first learned of the liquidation proceedings when he saw an article by Susan Comrie of amaBhungane in July 2024.”
❓
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence in archive to confirm Mulaudzi's account of learning about liquidation via Susan Comrie's article