Baroka FC, a club in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, has once again been forced to part ways with one of their new signings.
This time, the issue involves the South African Department of Home Affairs, leading the former Telkom Knockout champions to terminate the contract of 29-year-old Tanzanian centre-back Abdi Banda.
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Recently, Baroka also had to let go of another player, Mthokozisi 'Dancing Confidence' Ngcobo, due to him lacking an identity document.
In Banda's case, Baroka FC chairman Khurishi Mphahlele suspects there may be some form of sabotage occurring within the Department of Home Affairs.
Banda has not played any official matches for Baroka this season since signing with the club in July.
Mphahlele explained the club's struggle to obtain Banda's work permit, saying, "We've been having difficulty getting his work permit. It just hasn't come through. I don't know what is happening, maybe the Department of Home Affairs can explain better," he tells KickOff.
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"The first work permit came back indicating he was going to play for a club called Moroka. I have no idea which club that is. The second time, the work permit stated he was playing for Chippa United.
"We really don't know what's going on with our Home Affairs, so we decided to send him back home to clear his mind. This situation seems like bad luck, or perhaps they want something from us that we are unwilling to provide.
"Remember, he signed with us at the beginning of July this year, and now it's already December. The unfortunate part is that we've been paying him his salary without being able to use him in matches. We cannot continue to pay someone if we can't register him.
"It's better to terminate his contract and allow him to go back home and enjoy his Christmas. There's nothing we can do if the Department of Home Affairs is unwilling to issue this boy his work permit."