Danny Jordaan, the embattled president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), is set to launch a bold bid to have fraud charges dropped against him. The case, which has sent shockwaves through the South African football community, is scheduled to resume in the Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Gauteng, on Tuesday.
Jordaan, who has been at the helm of SAFA since 2013, is facing fraud and theft charges totaling a staggering R1.3 million ¹. The charges are a significant blow to Jordaan’s reputation, which has already been tarnished by allegations of rape and corruption in the past. Despite these setbacks, Jordaan remains a prominent figure in South African football, having played a key role in securing the country’s hosting rights for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Through his legal counsel, Jordaan is expected to argue that the ongoing legal battles involving SAFA may lead to unreasonable delays in the case. This, he will contend, is grounds for the charges to be dropped in terms of the Criminal Procedures Act. SAFA and Jordaan have already approached the Gauteng Division of the High Court, arguing that a raid at SAFA House earlier in 2024 was unlawful and malicious.
As Jordaan prepares to face the music, one thing is certain – the outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for South African football. Will Jordaan’s bid to clear his name to succeed, or will the charges stick? Only time will tell.
