Safa to report death threats to police ahead of closely contested presidential election

The South African Football Association (Safa) will report death threats, harassment and intimidation to police before its elective congress in Midrand on Saturday.

Several delegates have allegedly received death threats, while others have been subjected to harassment and intimidation ahead of the vote, prompting Safa to increase security at the venue.

Incumbent president Danny Jordaan will face businessman and AmaZulu owner Sandile Zungu in what is expected to be the most closely contested Safa presidential election in recent memory.

“Safa takes these threats very seriously, and the police will be notified accordingly,” the association said on Friday night.

The threats were sent to delegates and led to additional security measures being put in place around the congress venue.

Safa said the incidents represented a further escalation in attempts to disrupt the election and undermine confidence in the process.

“These threats and intimidation are an escalation after the calculated attempts to derail the elective congress and cast aspersions about the processes failed to achieve the desired objective.

“The elective congress will go ahead as scheduled after weeks of planning and preparation, and Safa will protect the right of its members to freely exercise their right to elect leaders of their choice.”

The congress will determine the next Safa president and the members of the national executive committee. Elections will also take place for provincial office positions.

Safa has invited Fifa, Caf, Cosafa and Sascoc representatives to attend the congress, along with sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie and legends of the game.