The continental football governing body, CAF is seriously concerned about the raid that was conducted by the Hawks at SAFA House. Based in Cairo, CAF says the allegations made by the Hawks and facing President Danny Jordaan are serious. Led by Mamelodi Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe CAF says they are looking at the allegations made by the crime-fighting body.
The Confederation of African Football, CAF’s concerns come following a raid last week by the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation unit on the offices of SAFA in Johannesburg.
Why CAF is Concerned About Hawks Raid at SAFA House
Gauteng News reported that the raid is in connection with allegations of fraud and theft involving R1.3m allegedly linked to Safa president, Jordaan.
In a statement sent to the media on Saturday, CAF said: “CAF is concerned about the respect and image of football in South Africa following the raid at Safa’s headquarters. CAF is looking into this matter based on and in accordance with the CAF and FIFA statutes and regulations and has requested SAFA to provide it with a report indicating that SAFA and its president Jordaan at no stage and under no circumstances violated or breached the CAF and FIFA statutes and regulations.”
In their statement, the Hawks named Jordaan as the person they were probing in a case involving R1.3m which they claimed was used without the approval of the association. At the time CAF issued their statement on Saturday, SAFA was having an NEC meeting at SAFA House and the Hawks raid at their offices was one of the issues they were expected to discuss.
CAF View Hawks Raid at SAFA House as a Serious One
In the same statement, the continent’s football governing body adds that ‘while the allegations made by the Hawks are serious, in line with international legal principles and jurisprudence, SAFA and Jordaan are presumed to be innocent.
“SAFA and Jordaan are innocent until an appropriate judicial body concludes otherwise. CAF has also requested SAFA to provide it with other information or facts which SAFA and Jordaan would like to bring to the attention of CAF,” CAF added in a statement.
Meanwhile the Nasrec-based South African football body, SAFA threatened to sue the Hawks for naming Jordaan as someone they were investigating. “We will further institute civil action for defamation of character against those involved in the naming of the SAFA president’s name in an ongoing investigation,” said SAFA in a response.
“We contend that this is unethical and unlawful as the police never mentioned anyone’s name in matters that are under investigation.
“We believe, unfortunately, that these members of the police have been compromised and are being used in the callous abuse of state resources. Let us reiterate: there is no money missing from SAFA. As a result of this, we have instructed our attorneys to bring an urgent application to review and set aside this search and seizure. “We have further instructed our attorneys to bring a formal complaint to the oversight arbitrator of the Hawks regarding the action of all involved members.”
In its statement, the Hawks said: “The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain. Including hiring a private security company for his personal protection, and a public relations company without authorisation from the SAFA board. The president is also reported to have violated SAFA statutes thus prejudicing SAFA an actual loss of R1.3 million.”
Radebe Wants to Lead SAFA
In a related article, celebrated former Bafana Bafana defender Lucas Radebe has raised his hand to succeed SAFA president Danny Jordaan. The ex-Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana defender says he is ready to lead SAFA and is already working on equipping himself for the hot seat.
In an interview with the media during the “No Lays No Game UEFA Champions League” event in Johannesburg, ‘Rhoo’ says he is well on track to prepare himself for the leadership position at SAFA. The 1996 African champion with Bafana says he is available for the SAFA presidency role should an opportunity present itself, and he will be ready.
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