EFF statement on the arrest of SAFA president Danny Jordaan for misuse of R1.3 million of SAFA money for his personal benefit
13 November 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is not surprised by the reported arrest of South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan for fraud, and allegedly misusing RI .3 million of the footballing association's money for his personal benefit.
According to reports, Jordaan has been arrested alongside SAFA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gronie Hluyo and a businessman by the name of Trevor Neethling. The involvement of the CFO reveals a deliberate and coordinated theft of SAFA money by its principal and the custodian of its funds.
Jordaan and his co-conspirators stand accused of utilising SAFA money to hire a private security company for personal protection, and to hire a public relations company without the approval of the SAFA board, a gross misuse of funds which could provide support to millions of talented and aspirant football players.
The EFF has long identified Danny Jordaan as a corrupt ANC-deployee in SAFA, who has no sophisticated knowledge of football or sports in general, and exists in the association as a proxy for corrupt ANC interests. It has been a wonder for all logical citizens of this country how someone can move from being a Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, to a President of a footballing association, without any verifiable track-record in the footballing world.
Under Danny Jordaan, football in South Africa has been neglected at a grassroots level, and development in the sport has been non-existent. It has taken the individual efforts of businessmen such as Patrice Motsepe, and sporting legends such as Dr. Irvin Khoza and Dr Kaizer Motaung to individually sustain football development in the country and the continent, because Danny Jordaan has for years proven to be directionless.
During his tenure, there remains an unfair wage gap between men and women's football, the lower leagues of football have deteriorated, and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) remains the only credible stage for aspirant footballers whose talents are discovered at a late stage. Additionally, there has remained a cloud of secrecy around the payments of bonuses and salaries when the national footballing teams participate in continental and international tournaments.
It is now clear that the finances of SAFA were being handled in the way they were, which lacks transparency, because Jordaan and his cronies were utilising funds meant for sporting development for personal interests and patronage.
The EFF calls for a thorough and independent probe into the finances of SAFA and how they were used during the tenure of Danny Jordaan as President of the institution. There must be specific focus on where the finances of SAFA have been directed to under his tenure, including procurement and payments of service providers which are most likely linked to the ANC and benefitted the ANC as an organisation.
Issued by Leigh-Ann Mathys, National Spokesperson, EFF, 13 November 2024
