South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr. Danny Jordaan, SAFA Chief Financial Officer Gronnie Hluyo, and businessman Trevor Neethling were granted R20,000 bail each following their court appearance on Wednesday, after being arrested on charges of fraud and theft amounting to R1.3 million. The trio appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge Magistrates Court, where the case has garnered significant attention.
The arrests followed an extensive investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), which has been probing allegations of fraudulent activity within SAFA. Colonel Katlego Mogale, a spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed that the charges stemmed from claims of misappropriation of SAFA’s funds for personal gain.
The accused individuals were granted bail with several conditions attached. Neethling and Hluyo are required to surrender their passports to the investigating officer, while Jordaan was allowed to retain his passport under the condition that he must report to the court before travelling. The court will reassess this condition depending on any changes to Jordaan’s position within SAFA.
Mogale further clarified that should Jordaan wish to travel abroad, he must make himself available to the court. In contrast, Neethling and Hluyo must apply for court approval if they wish to leave South Africa. Additionally, the trio has been prohibited from changing their verified addresses. The case has been postponed to December 5 for docket disclosure.
The charges against the trio are serious, including three counts of fraud, three counts of theft, and conspiracy to commit both fraud and theft. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the case revolves around a 12-month Service Level Agreement (SLA) that SAFA, represented by Jordaan, allegedly entered into with Grit Communications in December 2017. This agreement was for the provision of Public Relations (PR) and communication services for SAFA.
The NPA alleges that Jordaan signed the SLA without approval from the SAFA board, in violation of SAFA’s statutes. Furthermore, it is claimed that Jordaan and Neethling backdated the agreement to October 1, 2017, and used the PR services to protect Jordaan’s personal image, particularly in relation to allegations of sexual assault made against him in 2017.
In addition, the NPA claims that Jordaan obtained protection services worth over R40,000 from Badger Security during SAFA’s 2018 elective congress, with the services purportedly rendered for the protection of Jordaan himself, rather than SAFA. These services were allegedly for Jordaan’s personal benefit, not for the organisation.
The NPA also highlighted that, according to SAFA’s internal statutes, only the SAFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the CFO are authorised to sign contracts on behalf of the association. Despite this, Jordaan allegedly bypassed these rules, signing agreements that were unauthorised and unlawful. Hluyo, as CFO, is accused of approving the payments to both Grit Communications and Badger Security despite being fully aware that these transactions violated SAFA’s policies.
The charges follow an investigation that began with a search and seizure operation in March, when the Hawks raided SAFA’s offices, seizing various electronic devices and documents for further examination. These materials were reportedly crucial in uncovering the alleged fraud and theft scheme.
Jordaan, who has been at the helm of SAFA for several years, has faced previous allegations that have sparked public controversy, including sexual assault accusations from 2017, which he denied. The latest charges bring further scrutiny to his leadership at SAFA, an organisation that governs football in South Africa.
This case has already sparked strong reactions from various quarters. Civil rights groups have called for Jordaan’s resignation amid the ongoing criminal investigation. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie also weighed in, warning that any interference in the investigation could lead to a FIFA ban for the national football team, Bafana Bafana.
Despite the allegations, Jordaan has continued to be an influential figure in African football, and recently, he expressed his support for Patrice Motsepe’s re-election as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, these latest developments threaten to overshadow his political influence in football circles.
As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the December 5 court date, where more details are expected to emerge. The legal proceedings could have significant implications not only for Jordaan and his co-accused but also for the future of SAFA’s leadership and governance. The outcome will likely be closely followed by both the South African public and the global football community, given the high-profile nature of the individuals involved.
