CAF promises thorough probe of South Africa football a week after association boss’ arrest

Continental soccer ruling body, Confédération Africaine de Football, CAF, have come out a week after to state that intends to probe last week raid by Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit on South Africa Football Association, SAFA, headquarters.

CAF says that it is concerned about the respect and image of football in South Africa.

Last week Friday, Hawks conducted a raid on Safa House, executing search and seizure warrants as part of their investigation into allegations of fraud and theft against Dr Danny Jordaan., President of SAFA.

According to the statement, it’s alleged that the Safa president utilized the organization’s resources for personal gain. Reports also suggest that Jordaan breached Safa statutes, resulting in an actual loss of R1.3 million.

But according to press statement from the continental body on Saturday, CAF is looking into the matter based on and in accordance with the CAF and FIFA Statutes and Regulations and has requested SAFA to provide CAF with a Report, indicating that SAFA and its President, Dr Danny Jordaan at no stage and under no circumstances, violated or breached the CAF and FIFA Statutes and Regulations.

“Whilst the allegations made by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit are serious, in line with international legal principles and jurisprudence, SAFA and Dr Danny Jordaan are presumed to be innocent until an appropriate Judicial Body concludes otherwise,” the statement read.

CAF has also requested SAFA to provide it with any other information or facts which SAFA and Dr Danny Jordaan would like to bring to the attention of CAF.

The Hawks conducted a raid at Safa House to investigate allegations of fraud and theft against president Jordaan.

Hawks in a statement said that it executed search seizure warrants on SAFA on  08 March 2024 at the South African Football Association’s office over an allegation of fraud and theft amounting to R1.3 million.

“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, 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.

“During the search, a laptop, external hard drives, a USB and documents were seized,” the statement concluded,” the investigating unit said.

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