South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan has been re-elected for a record-extending fourth term, maintaining his iron grip on power at Safa House. Jordaan secured 157 votes, defeating businessman and AmaZulu owner Sandile Zungu who garnered 82 votes. This was the closest contest at a Safa elective congress since Jordaan became president in 2013. Jordaan's re-election comes despite Safa's financial struggles and allegations of fraud and theft against him.
Jordaan has been president of Safa since 2013 and has consistently demonstrated his ability to navigate the organization's politics. In 2018, former Premier Soccer League referee Ace Ncobo pulled out of the elections at the last minute, handing Jordaan an unchallenged run-in. In 2022, Jordaan was challenged by his former vice-president, Ria Ledwaba, and former Safa Tshwane president Solly Mohlabeng, but he defeated them comfortably. Ledwaba and Mohlabeng have since approached numerous courts in an attempt to overturn the 2022 electoral outcome.
Jordaan's leadership style has been described as dictatorial, with his opponents often ostracized. Former presidential hopeful Ncobo once said that Jordaan exercises a patronage system that he has entrenched in Safa to his benefit. Jordaan's supporters, including Safa Overberg president Tankiso Modipa, have consistently defended their leader from attacks on his integrity and grip on power. Modipa heads a pro-Jordaan lobby group in the federation, the Football Transformation Forum.
Safa's financial struggles have been a significant challenge during Jordaan's tenure. In December 2024, the organization had to request an advance on its annual government grant to pay staff. Regional structures have also had to forego monthly grants from Safa due to its financial woes. Jordaan faces allegations of fraud and theft of Safa funds, with his case still in the pretrial phase. He has maintained his innocence since being arrested in 2024 alongside Safa financial officer Gronie Hluyo and public relations company owner Trevor Neethling.
Jordaan's re-election despite a dark legal cloud hovering over his head raises questions about the organization's priorities. His case involves allegations that he hired Neethling's company to improve his public image ahead of the 2018 elective congress. This was after Jordaan was publicly accused of rape in October 2017 by South African singer and former parliamentarian Jennifer Ferguson. The case was eventually dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Jordaan's influence within Safa has also been demonstrated through his interactions with Parliament. Trusted affiliates of Jordaan have ferociously defended their leader from attacks on his integrity and grip on power from members of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture. Jordaan's supporters would likely accept martyrdom on his behalf, according to Ncobo. Despite his frailty, Jordaan continues to attend his fraud court case, sometimes requiring assistance to walk.
The impact of Jordaan's leadership on South African soccer is a subject of debate. While some national teams have performed relatively well, the perception of Safa's compromised integrity has likely hindered progress. Jordaan has blamed the media for the public's view of Safa being compromised. Modipa has acknowledged that internal divisions within Safa have made it challenging to attract investment, and the organization is working to develop its own funding model.
Key points
- Jordaan's re-election for a record-extending fourth term as Safa president
- Allegations of fraud and theft against Jordaan
- Safa's financial struggles during Jordaan's tenure
