Danny Jordaan fraud case stalls again as legal battle drags into September

The high-profile fraud and corruption case against South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan is once again on hold — this time until September 12 — as courtroom delays and changes in leadership continue to slow progress.

Fresh leadership, fresh delays

On Friday, state prosecutor advocate Moagi Malebati confirmed in the Palm Ridge Commercial Crimes Court that a new Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), advocate Mzukisi Sakata, will only take office on September 1. The change comes after suspended DPP Andrew Chauke left the position earlier this year.

Sakata will need time to review the defence’s request to have the case struck off the roll — a move that has been hanging in the balance for months. Until then, the matter remains in limbo.

The accusations

Jordaan, alongside his co-accused Gronie Hluyo, Trevor Neethling and PR company Grit Communications, faces allegations of using SAFA funds for personal benefit. This reportedly includes hiring a private security firm and a public relations company without board approval.

The case is separate from SAFA’s own legal challenge to a 2024 search and seizure at its Nasrec headquarters, though the defence has argued that the raid’s impact cannot be ignored.

Defence pushes back

Lawyer Victor Nkwashu, representing Jordaan and Hluyo, accused the state of trying to humiliate his clients if the raid truly has no bearing on the charges. He argued that his clients were exercising their legal right by taking the seizure matter to the High Court before trial proceedings began.

Meanwhile, attorney James Ndebele, representing Neethling and Grit Communications, claimed his clients were simply caught in the political crossfire between Jordaan and those seeking to discredit him. He gave the prosecution until the next appearance to decide whether to drop charges, warning he would argue for dismissal under Section 342 for unreasonable delay.

Public reaction

Football fans and sports commentators have taken to social media with mixed reactions. Some see the repeated postponements as a failure of South Africa’s justice system to handle high-profile cases efficiently, while others believe Jordaan is being unfairly targeted in an ongoing power struggle within SA football.

“Same story, different month. Justice delayed is justice denied,” one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, while another commented, “They’re trying to drag his name through the mud before SAFA elections.”

What’s next

Magistrate Shirley Soko-Rantao, in granting the postponement, urged the National Prosecuting Authority to make sure Sakata prioritises the matter once in office.

Until then, South African football’s top official remains under a legal cloud, with the sport’s governing body once again caught in a storm that has little to do with events on the pitch.

Source:SABC Sport

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