Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
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SUSPENDED Highlanders chief executive officer Denzil Mnkandla’s disciplinary hearing was postponed for a second time on Wednesday after the club failed to provide him and his legal representatives with requested documents within the agreed timeframe.
The hearing had initially been scheduled to take place two weeks ago before both parties agreed to postpone it to Wednesday. Under the agreement, Highlanders was expected to furnish Mnkandla with documents forming part of the disciplinary charges at least 72 hours before the hearing.
However, the process was disrupted following the deaths of Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe and board member responsible for finance Nkani Khoza, who were killed in a road traffic accident last week.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Mnkandla’s legal team only received the requested documents on Tuesday, a day before the rescheduled hearing, leaving insufficient time to prepare a response.
Highlanders was represented at Wednesday’s aborted proceedings by Morgan Dube and Ndabezinhle Mazibuko, while club chairman Vusi Vuma and Solomon Mguni were members of the disciplinary panel.
“Mnkandla’s lawyers only received the requested documents on Tuesday because the executive members who were expected to submit them sadly passed away. He still has to respond to the charges after considering the documentation,” said a source familiar with the proceedings.
The source added that, in light of the bereavement affecting the club’s executive, both parties consented to a further postponement.
“The matter was postponed by mutual consent and has been rescheduled for 18 August 2026,” the source said.
A member of Highlanders’ finance department is expected to testify when the disciplinary hearing resumes.
Bongani Ndlovu