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Fresh Twist in Danny Jordaan Fraud Case as 64GB of New Evidence Surfaces
A high-stakes battle in South African football
The courtroom drama surrounding South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan has taken yet another turn. His bid to have fraud charges dropped has failed, with prosecutors revealing that a massive trove of new evidence has been uncovered.
On Friday, the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court heard that 64 gigabytes of email records obtained under subpoena had strengthened the state’s case rather than weakened it. Jordaan, alongside Safa’s Chief Financial Officer Groni Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, faces allegations of misusing R1.3 million from Safa’s coffers.
The trio was arrested in November 2024 and charged with multiple counts of fraud, theft, and conspiracy. All three remain out on bail but are under growing scrutiny as the case drags on.
The emails that backfired
Ironically, the breakthrough came from the defence’s own attempt to clear Jordaan’s name. Prosecutors explained that the email correspondence initially submitted by the accused was selective and failed to reflect the full picture.
This prompted investigators to approach the hosting company Afrihost for complete records. The response delivered 64 GB of email data spanning 2017 to recent years. According to the state, these files contain far more incriminating material than what the defence had put forward.
Tensions between defence and prosecution
Defence lawyers expressed frustration, claiming they were blindsided by late-night correspondence from the acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Livingston Sakata, rejecting their representations. They also argued that the state’s own acknowledgement of ongoing investigations meant the case was not ready for trial.
For Jordaan’s legal team, inconsistencies around the charge sheet remain a sore point. They argue that earlier amendments, including the withdrawal of charges tied to legitimate hotel payments, have already damaged reputations unfairly.
Prosecutors, however, insist that the delays are tactics. Acting for the state, Moagi Malebati dismissed the high court challenges lodged by the defence as “self-created emergencies” designed to stall proceedings.
Bigger than football
The case has become about more than just three men. For many South Africans, it represents long-standing frustrations with corruption in sports administration. Social media has been quick to react, with users questioning how much longer Safa can afford to endure such reputational blows while struggling with financial instability and delayed staff salaries.
At the heart of it all is Danny Jordaan, a figure once celebrated for bringing the 2010 FIFA World Cup to South Africa, now fighting to clear his name in a corruption scandal that refuses to go away.
What happens next
The matter has been postponed to 21 November 2025, when the state will provide a progress report on outstanding issues. In the meantime, the high court review of the Safa House search and seizure looms large, scheduled for October.
Whether the fresh evidence speeds things up or simply adds to the delays remains to be seen. For now, the case remains one of the most closely watched courtroom sagas in South African sport, a story where the stakes are not only legal but also reputational for football’s leadership.
Also read: Fugitive Drug Boss Callum Gower Extradited From Cape Town to UK
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
