Zungu camp accuses Safa regions of ‘intimidation’ in battle to unseat Jordaan

Billionaire businessman and AmaZulu owner Sandile Zungu’s campaign team has alleged that key South African Football Association (Safa) regions are facing “intimidation” as the race to challenge incumbent president Danny Jordaan intensifies ahead of September’s elective congress.

Zungu has formally declared his intention to stand against Jordaan for the Safa presidency, and his camp insists it has secured meaningful backing among the association’s 52 regions – the main voting bloc at the congress scheduled for 13 September.

However, figures aligned to Zungu claim that pressure is being exerted on those regional structures that are considering withdrawing support for Jordaan, in a bid to keep them in line behind the long-serving head of South African football.

Jordaan, a former Safa chief executive who left that role to become CEO of the local organising committee for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, has led the association since his election as president in 2013.

Jordaan under fraud charge scrutiny

The election campaign unfolds as Jordaan faces legal jeopardy over Safa finances. The 72-year-old is currently facing charges of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud relating to R1.3m of Safa funds.

Despite those charges, he remains in office and is seeking to extend his tenure at the helm of South African football’s governing body.

Jordaan has already come through two re-election battles. In 2018, he secured a second term after his only challenger, Ace Ncobo, withdrew from the contest shortly before the vote.

Four years later, in 2022, Jordaan comfortably claimed another mandate, winning by a landslide against rival candidate Ria Ledwaba.

On both occasions, the defeated or withdrawn opposition camps alleged that the internal processes had been manipulated to favour Jordaan’s continuation as president.

Ncobo, a former referee and Safa official, went as far as to claim that the association’s constitution had been “butchered” to support what he described as Jordaan’s agenda.

Zungu pitches ‘rebuild’ message

Zungu, who owns Durban-based Premier Soccer League club AmaZulu and is one of South African football’s most prominent businessmen, has framed his presidential bid as an opportunity for Safa to reset its direction and public image.

In an interview with Sunday Times sports editor BBK, Zungu said Safa now had “an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen its image and reputation”, positioning his challenge as part of a broader renewal project for the organisation.

A video of the interview, shared on social media platform X, shows Zungu presenting himself as an agent of change at a time when South African football’s governance and leadership are again under scrutiny.

Long-running governance tensions

The latest allegations from Zungu’s camp over “intimidation” of regional voting structures add another layer to a decade of internal tension surrounding Safa’s elections and constitutional framework.

Opposition figures across multiple cycles have questioned the fairness and transparency of the electoral system, repeatedly arguing that changes to Safa’s constitution and internal rules have had the effect of entrenching Jordaan’s power.

Jordaan and his allies have consistently maintained that Safa’s processes are legitimate and have rejected claims of irregularities.

With the elective congress approaching and the 52 regions once more poised to decide the leadership of South African football, the contest between Jordaan and Zungu is expected to sharpen in the coming weeks, amid continuing legal, political and reputational pressures on the governing body.