Safa to cover Jordaan and Hluyo legal costs in fraud case

The South African Football Association (Safa) will pay the legal fees of president Danny Jordaan and chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo as they face allegations of fraud and corruption.

The decision was taken by Safa’s national executive committee (NEC), which also resolved to appoint a senior counsel to defend the pair in the case before Palm Ridge magistrate’s court.

Jordaan, who was re-elected for a fourth term last month, and Hluyo were arrested in 2024 after a Hawks investigation into the alleged misuse of R1.3m in Safa funds.

The proceedings, which began in 2024, include allegations of theft, corruption and fraud. Grit Communications director Trevor Neethling and former Safa chief executive officer Russell Paul have also been linked to the case.

Safa announced its decision in a statement issued on Wednesday night.

It said chief executive officer Lydia Monyepao had written to the court in December 2024 to state that the association was not a complainant in the matter.

“Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao wrote a letter to the court in December 2024 stating that Safa was never a complainant,” the statement read.

“The letter further stated that the complainants are disgruntled former Safa NEC members and employees who have no legal right to represent Safa in the proceedings. They have done so in their personal capacity outside the ambit of Safa.”

The association also rejected claims that the alleged wrongdoing had affected its financial management, pointing to its audit record.

Safa said the claims were unjustifiable because it had “consistently received clean financial audits” during the period in question.

“It is worth adding that Safa received unqualified audits for the period of this investigation by the National Prosecuting Authority and the subsequent audit period to date,” the statement continued.

The NEC has further authorised Safa to submit a written statement to the criminal proceedings denying wrongdoing by Jordaan, Hluyo and Russell Paul, who was the association’s former acting chief executive.

“The NEC further resolved that Safa shall intervene in the criminal proceedings by making a detailed written statement refuting any wrongdoing on the part of the president, the CFO, and former acting CEO, Mr Russell Paul.”

Safa said it also planned to pursue civil action against anyone it believed had damaged the reputation of the association or its officials.

“Finally Safa shall appoint an attorney and senior counsel to attend the proceedings on a watching brief going forward,” it said.

The decision is likely to intensify criticism from those who have accused Jordaan of using Safa funds to deal with personal legal disputes.