South Africa football president arrested, charged with fraud, theft

The South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan, has been arrested and charged with fraud and theft.

South African Police Force disclosed this, in a statement, stating that the arrest was made on Wednesday.

They also noted that the Football President has been charged with using the group’s resources for his own purposes in a fraud and theft case amounting to 1.3 million rand ($72,000).

The Football President was also accused of hiring a private security and public relations company without authorization.

“The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain.

“He was accused of hiring a private security company for his own protection and a public relations company without authorisation from the SAFA board.“

He was arrested following an intensive investigation by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based in Johannesburg into allegations of R1.3 million fraud and theft,” the police stated.

Jordaan, 73, is reported to have hired the public relations firm after his reputation took a knock when a South African singer and former lawmaker alleged in 2017 that he had sexually assaulted her 25 years previously.

He however, denied denied the charges in a Johannesburg court.

He was arrested with SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, head of the communications company cited in the charges, who also denied the accusations.

Jordaan has been SAFA president since 2013 and was elected for a third time in 2022, and led South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.