Zungu says concerns over South African football drove SAFA presidential bid

Sandile Zungu says the way football is being administered in South Africa, and the need to protect the interests of Black people, persuaded him to challenge Danny Jordaan for the SAFA presidency.

The AmaZulu president will face the incumbent at this weekend’s election, with Jordaan having held the position since 2013.

Zungu was also asked whether Jordaan should have temporarily stepped aside while facing a fraud case. The matter involving Jordaan and his co-accused has been postponed to 27 November 2026 as they continue to prove their innocence.

He said conscience should have influenced Jordaan’s decision, while arguing that leaders within SAFA, or organisations above it such as SASCOC, should have intervened.

“Conscience preached in our religious institutions, talks to unembeza in Zulu [conscience], that I’m accused of defrauding my organisation, I have to volunteer to step aside and prove myself in an open process that those accusations are incorrect,” Zungu said on MSW.

“Or at worst, the people who are leading with must display leadership by persuading you to do the honourable thing – step aside.

“I’ll also go far as saying, organisations above that, who are responsible for administration anything sport, specifically SASCOC, I’d expect them to have a word about that. So, along the way there are a lot of people who have abdicated their responsibility.”

‘They are pulling football to the lowest’

Zungu said his decision to contest the election was also shaped by his belief that football, which is widely viewed as a Black people’s sport in South Africa, should be run in a way that better serves that community.

“Trust me sponsors are watching and therefore it’s sad that sport, which in the general public is perceived to be the black sport, football in SA it’s perceived to be black sport,” he continued.

“Like rugby, it’s perceived to be a white sport, notwithstanding the spectacular conduct of the captain [Siya Kolisi] and others. But rugby has extended its reach beyond colours.

“But the black sport managed by black people, are pulling it to lowest level. And that’s one of the reasons I agreed to put my hand in the ring because I can’t take it.

“I’ve led businesses like black business counsel when I could have plied my trade elsewhere, but I said I feel very strongly about things that are looking after the interests of black people.”

Zungu said sponsors were watching the state of the game, contrasting football’s position with rugby, which he said had extended its reach beyond racial divisions despite being perceived as a white sport.