The South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan, along with his co-accused CFO Gronnie Hluyo, want the fraud and theft case of R1.3 million to be thrown out. The case was postponed to 10 December 2024 to allow Jordaan and Hluyo to make a formal application to have the matter struck off the roll.
Jordaan, Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling and his entity (Grit Communications), made a brief appearance in the Specialised Crimes Court in Palm Ridge in Ekurhuleni.
The trio were arrested last month by the Hawks on charges of fraud and theft amounting to R1.3 million. The State alleges that between 2014 and 2018, Jordaan used SAFA resources for his personal gain, including hiring a private security company for his personal protection, a Communications firm belonging to Neethling, to manage his image without authorisation from the SAFA Board.
The trio argues that this is an internal battle over positions by disgruntled former employees. At the beginning of the court proceedings, the court heard that full disclosure of the docket had not been made available to the defence.
DANNY JORDAAN TO BRING FORMAL APPLICATION
Jordaan and Hluyo’s legal representative, Advocate Norman Arendse, revealed plans to apply for the matter to be struck off the roll; this is pending two other cases that are currently in the Johannesburg High Court. Accused 2 (Neethling) and 4 (Grit Communications) only applied last Friday.
However, the State alleges that the defence made the applications for the copies of the docket with the administrator only last week.
Magistrate Sheron Soko-Rantao said it is for this Section 342A(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act Application to be brought by accused 1 (Jordaan) and 3 (Hluyo). She said their bail (R20 000) is extended with the same conditions, and they are expected back in Court 9 next Tuesday.
“The matter is postponed until 10 December for the application to be brought by Jordaan and Hluyo,” said Soko-Rantao.
Neethling’s legal team has yet to decide whether to join the application to sever the case.
His legal representative, James Ndebele, said the case was postponed to enable Jordaan and Hloyo to bring a formal application in terms of Section 342A(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“I represent accused 2 (Neethling) and 4, the PR company that was supposedly engaged to assist the President of SAFA in terms of his image which is incorrect, that is not the case. But be that as it may, I cannot say much into the fact that the matter is sub judice. Accused number 2 submitted a formal presentation to the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution on 16 November, hoping to get the decision by next Tuesday before the application is heard. Defence can still join the Application by accused 1 and 3,” said Ndebele.
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IT’S ALL SAFA POLITICS
He maintained that his client is being used in the ploy of SAFA politics.
“Services were rendered by accused number 2 in so far as his contract that was concluded between himself and the organisation, He is just being used as a scapegoat in the dispute by former SAFA officials,” said Ndebele.
State accused Advocate Norman Arendse of conflict of interest, saying he represents SAFA and now is representing accused 1 and 3.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana said the case will now hear two separate applications by the State where they are alleging that the lawyer representing Jordaan is conflicted, and they will be bringing forward the evidence. She said then the court will take the decision.
“If the court finds that indeed Arendse is conflicted, then Danny Jordaan will have to find another legal representative,” she said.
Mjonondwane further said: “The second Application is brought by the accused persons, they are citing unreasonable delays. So, they are bringing applications in terms of Section 342A(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act. As the State, we will be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations of the unreasonable delay,” said Mjonondwane.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, says he has requested a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss the appropriate course of action regarding the Jordaan situation. The Minister went on to congratulate SAFA for Bafana Bafana’s recent qualification for AFCON 2025. Bafana booked a place at the Morocco 2025 AFCON after topping group K of the qualifying campaign. This means they will appear in back-to-back AFCON finals, having finished third in Ivory Coast earlier this year.
Article written by Ntombi Nkosi