Daniel "Danny" Jordan, South African Football Association (SAFA) president. Image: City Press
(The Post News)- The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture invited to Parliament the South African Football Association (SAFA) on Wednesday, 4 June, in its quest to get the governance and finances of the association back on solid ground.
SAFA, represented by Danny Jordaan, appeared before the committee on Tuesday where they declared that they are facing financial issues.
Jordaan, who has led the association for almost three decades, is a renowned sports administrator and a former lecturer, politician and anti-apartheid stalwart. He became involved in anti-apartheid activities by joining the South African Students’ Organisation in the early 1970s, an organisation founded by the late Steve Biko to defend the rights of black students in South Africa.
Jordaan later became a member of the United Democratic Front and the African National Congress (ANC), and in 1997, he was elected Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South African Football Association (Safa).
Jordaan led the country to a successful bid in 2004 for the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was then elected CEO of the South Africa 2010 Organising Committee for the 2010 event.
However, SAFA that Jordan is heading is currently in shambles, with it not being able to pay staff salaries. Speaking to the media, one staff member said that they were notified about salary delays, and that SAFA did not have financial reserves to pay them in the meantime.
After SAFA appeared before the committee, The Chairperson of the committee, Joe McGluwa, said the serious issues faced by the association necessitate that there be a follow up meeting.
McGluwa further stated that SAFA’s failures to generate revenue was worry some and could lead to citing that most tournaments had been organised without any form of financial assistance from the association.
Despite all the challenges SAFA is facing, Jordan effectively confirmed that he will bid for fourth term as the president, going against his promises of leaving the office after the current term ends.
Jordan’s hint for the fourth term and holding on to power raised eyebrows of the public, with some suspecting that he could be standing on top of landmines waiting to explode, and blaming him for maladministration.
On the recent appearance before the committee Jordaan managed to stand his ground against the sharp scrutiny from Parliament, however the increasing pressure on SAFA from the public may decide his fate within the organisation.
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