Jordaan and Zungu face decisive contest for control of Safa

Danny Jordaan is seeking a fourth term as president of Safa, with businessman Sandile Zungu attempting to end his long tenure in an election that will be decided by the organisation’s regions tomorrow.

Jordaan, 75, has held the Safa presidency since 2013, despite previously saying he would leave the position. He became internationally known for leading South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 World Cup and later served as chief executive of the tournament.

He was also mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay metro from May 2015 to August 2016.

Jordaan is supported by the Football Transformation Forum, which was founded in 2009, as well as most members of Safa’s national executive committee. Those committee members have continued to defend his administration while he faced allegations of financial mismanagement and a court case.

He is also believed to have campaigned extensively among the majority of Safa’s regions ahead of the vote.

Jordaan’s record under scrutiny

Jordaan’s opponents accuse him of treating Safa as a personal fiefdom, limiting internal debate and removing people who challenge his leadership.

They also argue that the organisation’s finances have been poorly managed in recent years under his presidency.

Zungu, 59, entered the contest only a few months ago. The businessman is chairman of Zungu Investments Company (Zico) and of AmaZulu FC, the Betway Premiership club.

In 2025, his consortium, Sizekhaya Holdings, was awarded South Africa’s highly lucrative National Lottery licence. Zungu has also served as president of the Black Business Council and chaired the boards of Denel, the state-owned arms manufacturer, and EOH Holdings.

His campaign is supported by football legends and the newly formed Force For Change, a group that wants Jordaan removed from office.

However, it remains unclear whether Zungu has built enough regional support to defeat an incumbent who began campaigning for a fourth term two years ago. Few regions have publicly declared their backing for Zungu, although he has said he will win the election.

Zungu’s challenge

Critics of Zungu say he lacks experience as a football administrator and could face a conflict of interest because he owns a club.

They have also questioned some of his campaign pledges. Zungu has promised that Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana will win the World Cup, but pessimists believe those ambitions are unrealistic.

The election therefore pits Jordaan’s established network within Safa against Zungu’s challenge from outside the organisation’s current leadership, with the regions set to determine who controls the association’s next term.