Danny Jordaan: South African FA president arrested on fraud charges

Danny Jordaan, president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), was arrested and charged on Wednesday with misusing the organization’s resources for personal gain in a fraud and theft case involving $72,000, according to police and as reported by AFP.

Jordaan, known for leading South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, denied the allegations during a court appearance in Johannesburg.

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

Jordaan is accused of hiring a private security firm for personal protection and a public relations company without authorization from the SAFA board, the statement said.

The 73-year-old reportedly engaged the PR firm after facing reputational damage in 2017, when a South African singer and former lawmaker accused him of sexually assaulting her 25 years earlier, an allegation he denied.

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,” police said.

Jordaan, who has served as SAFA president since 2013 and was re-elected for a third term in 2022, was arrested along with SAFA’s chief financial officer, Gronie Hluyo, and businessman Trevor Neethling, head of the communications firm involved in the case. Both Hluyo and Neethling have also denied the charges.

All three were released on bail by the court.