South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan has been arrested and charged with fraud after allegedly spending R1.3 million of the Association’s money for his personal benefit.
Jordaan and his two co-accused, SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and journalist-turned-businessman Trevor Neethling, are set to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Palm Ridge on Wednesday.
Jordaan told the court that he had been arrested at his home.
“I did not hand myself over, police came to my house and brought me to this court.”
Jordaan approached the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg for an interdict to stop his arrest. The matter was set to be heard on Thursday, but may now be rendered moot as police have already effected the arrest.
Earlier, the Hawks confirmed that two executives and a businessman were expected to hand themselves over after arrest warrants were issued.
In March this year, the Hawks raided SAFA’s offices in Nasrec, Johannesburg.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said it is alleged that, between 2014 and 2018, Jordaan used the organisation’s resources for personal gain, including hiring a private security company for personal protection and a public relations company, without the board’s authorisation.
Jordaan was released on R20,000 bail.
“The president is also reported to have violated SAFA statutes, thus prejudicing SAFA an actual loss of R1.3 million,” Mogale said at the time.
During the five-hour raid, the Hawks seized a laptop, external hard drives, a USB, and documents.