Former Safa NEC member Jacob Mathathe has attacked the football body for agreeing to pay president Danny Jordaan’s legal fees. He said the organisation has “lost its soul”.
Safa said it had laid no complaint against Jordaan and three others. They are chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo, former acting chief executive Russell Paul and Grit Communications director Trevor Neethling.
“That’s the reason we were fighting, and we are still going to fight for the soul of Safa,” Mathathe told IOL Sports in an exclusive interview.
The four men face charges of theft, fraud and corruption linked to association money. Their case has been running for a long time at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
Safa said it will cover the legal costs Jordaan and Hluyo have run up so far. It will also hire lawyers to watch the court case and tell the court where it stands.
The body also said it will start disciplinary steps against people who bring Safa into disrepute.
The new NEC supported these decisions. Its members were inducted by Safa and Fifa officials in Sandton in the week before the IOL report.
Mathathe was not allowed to stand for re-election because he was found to be “non-compliant”. He opposed Jordaan’s bid for a fourth term at the recent elective congress.
He said the SMLFA will keep pushing for changes to the way Safa is run.
“We won’t stop until certain objectives are achieved. It’s not about us; it’s about what is best for South African football and securing the right leadership for the country,” he said.
“This is not personal. We understand the pain caused by a leadership that is self-centered and, to a large extent, corrupt,” Mathathe added.
He said he was shocked by the timing of honorarium payments made in the week before the elections. He believes some NEC members backed Jordaan for their own personal interests.
“He is charged with allegations of theft and corruption against the very organisation he leads,” Mathathe said. “It makes no sense for the same organisation to resolve to defend him and appoint legal counsel to protect him.”
Safa has described its critics as “disgruntled former members”. Mathathe rejected this label. He said he was one of the people who first asked Jordaan to step aside until he was cleared of all charges.
“It shows that people like us, who challenged these decisions and pointed out what was wrong, have been pushed out,” he said.
Mathathe said the new NEC would not question matters of governance or the health of Safa as an organisation.
“They are only looking after themselves,” he said. He added that this harms the image and brand of Safa.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.