Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt has confirmed that captain Thulani Hlatshwayo has committed his future to the club after signing a three-year contract.

The 28-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, with his contract set to expire in June 2019.

However, Hunt has since confirmed that the Bafana Bafana defender has opted to extend his stay with the defending Absa Premiership champions.

‘He has signed the extension now, so that was put to bed,’ Hunt told the media.

‘He has signed another three years, so yeah. I know and I read about it [rumours of joining Pirates] and obviously, it didn’t make the boy’s life easier because he was getting phone calls or whatever.

‘He is okay and he is settled now.’

The Wits mentor also confirmed that defender Buhle Mkhwanazi has committed his future to the club, but has not disclosed the length of his deal.

‘Buhle as well, he is fine. He got an extension, those are fine,’ he added.

‘You always got to try and work six to eight months in advance. I think if you don’t and you wake up, you get lost.

‘We always try to work in advance even though you are worried about the situation but you need to work in advance, that’s the nature of the game.’

Bidvest Wits will next take on Maritzburg United at the Bidvest Stadium when the two sides meet in the Absa Premiership on 3 April, with kick-off set for 19:30 following the Fifa international break.