SAFA accuses state of delay tactics in fraud case

SAFA accuses state of delay tactics in fraud case

SAFA says the state is deliberately delaying progress in the fraud, corruption, and conspiracy to commit fraud case against its president Danny Jordaan, CFO Gronie Hluyo, Trevor Neethling, and Grit Communications.

The matter was again postponed on Friday at the Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge to September 12, pending a decision by the new Acting DPP in Gauteng on the representations made by the defense attorneys to have it struck off the roll.

Through their lawyer Lesedi Mphahlele, the association says whatever the decision by the new NPA boss, there’ll still be delays because their challenge at the High Court has not yet been heard.

"The state or the DPP has still not responded to the representations, which was made early in this year, and eight months later, we are still sitting with postponements."

Mphahlele says the state is being disingenuous in their view that it is the accused who caused the delays by challenging the search and seizure at the High Court.

"The application to set out the search and seizure was brought before this matter, and the accused people were charged. The application was brought two weeks after the search and seizure happened, and the accused were only charged and brought to court in November, so how can that be self created."

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He also denied that there’s any money missing from the SAFA coffers as alleged by the state. He challenged prosecutor Advocate Moagi Malebati to bring evidence for those allegations, and was confident that the association’s financial records are clean.

Mphahlele says it is clear that this is all just a smear campaign against Jordaan, and expects even more charges to be dropped after the state had to amend their charge sheet already.

He says the former 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee CEO has suffered significant reputational damage around the world.

"When you are accused of misappropriation of funds, be it fraud, or theft, it obviously damages your character and image.

"Accordingly, when this matter gets struck from the roll, and when they are found not guilty, all of the accused will have the right to get recourse."