South African FA President Danny Jordaan arrested for alleged fraud, embezzlement

South African Football Association (Safa) President Danny Jordaan has been arrested on charges of fraud and money embezzlement following allegations that he misappropriated funds from the organization.

The 73-year-old was taken into custody on Wednesday morning and is currently being processed at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

His arrest follows a five-hour raid by Hawks officers at the Safa offices, where several crucial items, including laptops, documents, USBs, and external hard drives, were confiscated to aid the investigation.

The charges relate to claims that Jordaan used the Federation’s resources for personal gain between 2014 and 2018, including allegations of misappropriating a total of R1.3 million.Alongside Jordaan, two others have been arrested and charged in connection with the case.

They are Safa’s Chief Financial Officer, Gronie Hluyo, and businessman Trevor Neethling, who was previously a journalist. All three are set to appear in the Specialized Commercial Crime Court in Palm Ridge on Wednesday.

According to reports, the allegations suggest that Jordaan used Safa’s resources for his personal benefit, including hiring a private security company for his protection and a public relations firm without proper approval from the Safa Board.

Hawks’ Investigation and Search of Safa Offices In March 2024, the Hawks conducted a search of Safa’s offices looking for evidence to support the charges, but no substantial material was found at the time.

However, with Jordaan now facing charges, the investigation appears to have advanced, and it remains to be seen what evidence will be presented in court.

The arrest of the veteran football administrator comes at a pivotal time, as Jordaan had been seeking to run for a fourth term as Safa president.