Johannesburg: President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan, together with two co-accused, have been granted bail after appearing in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on allegations of fraud of over R1.1 million.

According to South African Government News Agency, Jordaan, along with former SAFA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gronie Hluyo and former journalist and director of Grit Communications Trevor Neethling, appeared in court on Wednesday. They were charged with three counts of fraud, three counts of theft, and conspiracy to commit fraud and theft.

The allegations are linked to a 12-month Service Level Agreement (SLA) allegedly made by SAFA, represented by Jordaan, with Grit Communications in December 2017 for public relations and communication services. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane stated that Jordaan allegedly signed the SLA, which was neither sanctioned nor approved by SAFA, and that he and Neethling backdated the agreemen
t to 01 October 2017.

Grit Communications is reported to have been engaged to manage Jordaan’s personal image following rape allegations against him in 2017. Additionally, he allegedly acquired protection services worth over R40,000 from Badger Security during the SAFA 2018 elective congress, but these services were exclusively for him.

According to SAFA statutes, only the CFO and Chief Executive Officer were authorized to sign contractual agreements, a protocol Jordaan allegedly bypassed. The PR services were already provided by SAFA’s existing department. Despite knowing the actions were unauthorized, it is alleged that Hluyo approved payments to Grit Communications and Badger Security.

The accused were granted bail of approximately R20,000 each and are scheduled to return to court on 05 December 2024.