Explained: Why CAF wants answers from SAFA after Hawks raid

Explained: Why CAF wants answers from SAFA after Hawks raid

CAF has clarified the reasons behind their request for documentation from SAFA relating to the recent raid by the Hawks on its headquarters in Johannesburg.

The raid followed fraud allegations to the value of R1.3 million, which was under investigation for nearly five years, according to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. 

READ: CAF raise concerns over SAFA state of affairs

CAF Head of Television and acting Director of Communications, Luxolo September tells SABC Sport the information they are requesting from SAFA is no different from what they demand from all other 53 member associations when there’s a need to.

"You must remember when the current president of CAF, Dr Patrice Motsepe, took office, he had what we call the 10-point plan, in which there was a strong emphasis on governance, ethical leadership and the image of football," explained September.

"Even in this context, of course based on the regulations and statutes of CAF, we've written to our member SAFA in light of the reports of a raid by The Hawks, and also a number of other media reports around these matters.

"This is not necessarily a South African matter, there've been several instances whereby whenever there are cases such as this, CAF gets involved to ask the questions of our member on what the status is of what has been said and for the member to furnish us with all relevant documentation."

Some CAF members over the years have been marred by maladministration, corruption, and fraud by those leading the football associations, and football development in the process has suffered. 

SABC Sport understands, before the end of this week, SAFA should have furnished CAF with the documents they are looking for, with September adding more on the next steps once they have received these documents.

"I think, obviously, everything is going to be informed by the contents of this communication from our member, and I think it's very important for CAF to make it clear that we are moving from a position of presumption of innocence whether on SAFA or its president or anyone else for that matter," he added.

"However, for the CAF president and administration, it's important we must not only preach good governance, but we must make the necessary follow-ups whenever there are grey areas whereby in this case CAF feels there is an area of concern in relation to the image of football in South Africa."