South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan was arrested on Wednesday on charges of fraud and theft.
The charges allege that Jordaan used SAFA’s resources for personal purposes between 2014 and 2018, totaling about 1.3 million rand (around $72,000).
According to a police statement, “The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain.” Police claim Jordaan, 73, hired a private security company for personal protection and engaged a public relations firm without SAFA board approval. The PR firm was reportedly hired after his reputation was affected by sexual assault allegations made in 2017, which Jordaan denied.
The arrest followed an in-depth investigation by Johannesburg’s Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit. Alongside Jordaan, SAFA’s chief financial officer, Gronie Hluyo, and businessman Trevor Neethling, head of the communications company involved in the case, were also arrested. Both Hluyo and Neethling denied any wrongdoing.
All three were later released on bail pending further court hearings. Jordaan, who has been SAFA president since 2013 and was re-elected in 2022, continues to deny the charges against him.
