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A South African court granted bail to SAFA President Danny Jordaan amid $71,000 fraud allegations, following accusations of misusing federation funds for personal gain. Confiscated evidence includes electronic devices and documents.
The president of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Danny Jordaan has been released on bail following his appearance in court over allegations of fraud and embezzlement amounting to $71,000 (9.3million).
Jordaan, a veteran in the South African football administration who is seeking a fourth term as SAFA president, was released on Wednesday on a bail of $1,100 (Ksh 143,000) after a court appearance in Palm Ridge, where he faced charges related to the alleged misuse of SAFA resources.
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During the hearing, magistrate Phillip Venter outlined Jordaan's bail conditions, citing the state’s decision not to oppose bail for Jordaan and his co-accused, SAFA CFO Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling.
“The court has heard all the [bail] applications, and I listened to the respondents [state] who are not opposing bail. It is safe to say all the applicants were verified and that the applicants are not flight risks,” Venter said in court as quoted by Herald Live.
All three accused were granted bail, with Jordaan’s case attracting significant public interest due to his high-profile role in South African football.
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In his own defense, Jordaan denied the charges, asserting his innocence and expressing his commitment to remaining in South Africa throughout the legal proceedings.
"I have not committed those offences," Jordaan stated.
"I have no intention to live abroad. It is in the interest of justice for me to get bail. My release will not disturb public order."
The court, acknowledging Jordaan’s prominent role in the country’s football landscape, allowed him to keep his passport to continue fulfilling his professional duties while the investigation is ongoing.
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The charges against Jordaan are linked to alleged misuse of SAFA’s resources from 2014 to 2018, with claims that he engaged a private security firm for personal protection and hired a public relations company without board authorization.
The accusations, initially brought forward by former SAFA vice-president William Mooka and other former executives, prompted an investigation by South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, the Hawks, or Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations.
The Hawks have been gathering evidence in the case for months, culminating in a raid on SAFA’s offices.
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The five-hour operation at SAFA headquarters led to the seizure of several electronic devices and documents, including a laptop, USB drives, external hard drives, and various other files, as part of the ongoing probe.
The evidence, Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale stated, is intended to substantiate the allegations that Jordaan utilized SAFA resources for personal gain.
“The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain, including hiring a private security company for his personal protection and a public relations company, without authorisation from the SAFA board,” Mogale said.
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These accusations, if proven, could represent a significant breach of fiduciary responsibility on Jordaan's part, putting the spotlight on the internal governance of SAFA.
In response to his arrest and pending charges, Jordaan filed an urgent application to halt his prosecution, with the application expected to be heard in Johannesburg’s high court on Thursday.
According to reports, Jordaan seeks to challenge both his arrest and the foundation of the charges against him, hoping to clear his name ahead of SAFA’s upcoming elections.
For now the court has postponed further hearings until December 5 allowing Jordaan and his co-accused time to prepare their defense.
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