Sandile Zungu accuses Danny Jordaan faction of ‘dirty tricks’ before Safa election

AmaZulu owner Sandile Zungu has accused the faction supporting South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan of using “dirty tricks” to influence Saturday’s presidential election.

Zungu and Jordaan will go head-to-head at Safa’s elective congress in Midrand, where Zungu is attempting to end Jordaan’s 13-year tenure as president.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Zungu said some regions which had supported his campaign had been prevented from taking part in the congress. He described the alleged exclusions as part of an attempt to undermine his challenge and promised what he called a new dawn for Safa.

“We are obviously putting on a brave face, but we are seething with anger because of what has been done to some regions. Our legends here have been disqualified from participating in the upcoming elections,” Zungu said.

He claimed certain regions had openly sought changes to their leadership, but that efforts to replace those leaders had failed.

“There are some regions which are clearly forcefully pushing for change, and there was an attempt to change leadership, which did not succeed.

“And as a form of punishment for them, they are being disqualified from participating in the elections,” Zungu said.

Zungu did not identify the regions involved and offered no specific evidence to support his allegations.

However, he suggested the matter could be taken to court if people who are expected to attend Saturday’s congress are unable to do so. He said consultations with legal representatives were already under way.

“As I’m talking, there are consultations with legal people to see how we can take the matter forward, and trust me, we take it very seriously. Notwithstanding, we will win these elections,” he said.

Zungu also accused his opponents of trying to destabilise regional structures and alleged that electoral fraud was being attempted.

“The monkey tricks will not take anybody anywhere. The era of monkey tricks is over. Yes, there is an attempt at destabilising the regions, but it will not succeed. There is an attempt at committing electoral fraud; it will not succeed.

“You may be aware that a charge was laid somewhere in the Northern Cape against the Safa president and the CEO [Lydia Monyepao] for what is alleged to be defrauding the Safa constitution.

“It is a very serious charge, in addition to many other charges facing the incumbent Safa president, and it is being challenged. We are not taking any chances.

“But I must emphasise, notwithstanding [all the dirty tricks], we have an upper hand. We will win these elections. We’ve done a lot of work above ground, and we’ve done a lot of work underground.”

The allegations come as Zungu seeks to unseat Jordaan, who has led Safa for 13 years. Saturday’s congress in Midrand will determine whether the incumbent remains in office or whether Zungu’s campaign succeeds in bringing a change of leadership to the association.