Danny Jordaan won’t step aside as SAFA president amid fraud charges

South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan will not step down from his position while facing fraud charges, according to SAFA vice-president Bennett Bailey.

Jordaan, along with SAFA Chief Financial Officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where they were granted R20,000 bail.

They face multiple charges of conspiracy, theft, and fraud related to an investigation into R1.3 million of alleged fraud and theft.

The charges stem from an inquiry by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation into claims that Jordaan misused SAFA’s resources for personal gain, including hiring a private security company and a PR firm without proper approval from the SAFA Board between 2014 and 2018.

Bailey confirmed that there have been no discussions within SAFA’s national executive about Jordaan stepping aside during the trial to protect the integrity of football’s governing body.

He said, “That (the step aside rule) is a political statement. In political parties, especially in the ruling party, that is the policy of that party. At SAFA, there is no such thing. You are not guilty until you are proven guilty. And that is our official position on this.”

Bailey also dismissed the idea of a “step aside” rule, adding, “Maybe you know of something we don’t, there is no such discussions.

Maybe you know of something we don’t, tell us. Let us not look for ghosts, then you want to develop a theory around ghosts, there’s no such thing.”

Bailey, who is also president of SAFA Cape Town, suggested the charges against Jordaan were part of a plot to remove the current SAFA executive.

“And we are here to support him because we know exactly what the agenda is around this, and we will bring that out in court,” Bailey said.

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