SAFA president Danny Jordaan speaking this week as the association announced a new Standard Bank four-year sponsorship deal.
Image: Backpagepix
The days of Danny Jordaan as president of the South African Football Association (Safa) may be numbered. That is the view of former sports administrator turned retired reverend Zola Dunywa.
Dunywa and Jordaan go back a long way. They were both involved in the formation of the association many years ago through political affiliations that aimed to prioritise unity in South African football.
The pair later worked together at Safa in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Dunywa served as Bafana Bafana’s team manager before becoming head of youth development. Their relationship eventually turned sour, however, as Dunywa left the association while Jordaan worked his way to the presidency.
Having first been appointed Safa president in 2013, Jordaan is currently serving his third term. With each term lasting four years, he has now spent 12 years in power.
Because there is no term limit for the Safa presidency, Dunywa believes Jordaan may not be able to pursue a fourth term due to his age. Jordaan is now 74, and Dunywa argues that his long stay at the helm reflects an enduring desire to hold on to power.
“Danny is not going to be there after the World Cup – ask me. I am telling you now,” Dunywa told Independent Media in an exclusive interview this week. “Can’t you see the guy is sick?
“I ask myself: why do you want a caterpillar to take you out of position? It’s because you have not created a succession plan. Who is going to come in? They’ll be fighting about that position after the elections that have been postponed again.”
The decision to postpone Safa’s elective congress until after the upcoming Fifa World Cup – which Bafana Bafana will participate in – has also left Dunywa stunned.
“There won’t be elections after the World Cup. Take it from me. Those guys want to go to the World Cup, enjoy themselves and get honorariums,” Dunywa said. “An honorarium means you are being honoured because you have done something good. But what are we honouring them for? What have they done?”
Dunywa also believes Jordaan’s potential 2026 bid is under threat, claiming that Local Football Associations (LFAs) in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape are reconsidering their support for his campaign.
“That is why he is resorting to firing people,” Dunywa alleged.
“One day the truth is going to come out about why Danny needs a caterpillar to remove him from Safa. What is he sitting on that he fears could be exposed if investigated?”
He also raised questions about funds linked to Fifa.
“What happened to the FIFA trust money? Why did he fire four people, including trustees, connected to that money? All those things will come out one day,” Dunywa said.
Dunywa – once a respected administrator before leaving sport to focus on ministry – still believes Safa can learn from more stable sporting organisations such as South African Rugby Union (Saru) and Cricket South Africa (CSA).
“I don’t believe Danny will still be at Safa by the end of the year,” he said. “Leadership must change through proper processes and time.
“You only have to look at the leadership structures in rugby and cricket to see the difference.”