South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan, along with former Safa chief financial officer Gronnie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, made headlines on Wednesday as they appeared in court on charges of fraud and theft.
The trio was granted R20,000 bail each, with strict conditions imposed. Jordaan was allowed to keep his passport but must notify the court before any travel. Hluyo and Neethling, on the other hand, had to surrender their passports and refrain from interfering with witnesses.
The charges stem from allegations of financial misconduct involving Safa’s resources between 2014 and 2018. It is alleged that Jordaan misappropriated Safa funds for personal use, including hiring a private security firm and engaging a public relations company without Safa board approval.
One of the key allegations is that Jordaan signed a Service Level Agreement with Grit Communications in December 2017 for public relations and communication services without Safa’s sanction. The agreement was backdated to October 2017, and it is claimed that Jordaan used these services to protect his image following rape allegations in 2017.
The investigation reached a critical point in March 2024 when the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit executed search and seizure warrants at Safa’s offices, confiscating electronic devices and documents. This evidence contributed to building the case against Jordaan, Hluyo, and Neethling.
The case has been postponed to December 5, with the expectation of disclosure of the docket. This development has sent shockwaves through the South African football community, raising questions about governance and financial management within the country’s football association.
As the story unfolds, the public awaits further updates on the legal proceedings and the outcome of the case against Jordaan and his co-accused. Stay tuned for more information as this high-profile case continues to make headlines in the sports world.
