SAFA’s Jordaan loses bid to strike graft case off roll
South African Football Association President Danny Jordaan lost his court bid to have the fraud case against him, and two others struck off the court roll over alleged delays.
Jordaan and his co-accused, SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, appeared before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge on Tuesday.
The trio, who were out bail R20,000 bail each, were arrested in November on charges of fraud, theft and conspiracy to commit fraud and theft.
The state alleges that between 2014 and 2018, Jordaan used SAFA’s resources to the tune of R1.3 million for his personal gain when he procured the services of a PR company and security services without the board's approval.
READ MORE: ‘Smear campaign’ – Jordaan’s backers cry foul
Jordaan brought an application under section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act, which directs that a court hearing a criminal matter may investigate any potentially unreasonable delays in the completion of proceedings that may prejudice the parties before the court.
“I must say that I have investigated the matter the whole day, starting with the first leg. Have you established the delay, Your Worship? I have not identified the delay, taking into account that the matter started in November. So, there is no delay,” said Magistrate Sheron Soko-Rantao.
Soko-Rantao also found that the court had no jurisdiction to stay the prosecution.
“On that basis, I’m saying that section 342A is premature in these proceedings, and this court is dismissing the application.”
Earlier, the state lost its bid to have Jordaan’s lawyer, Advocate Norman Arendse, recused from the case over an alleged conflict of interest.
State Prosecutor Moagi Molebati argued that Arendse represented SAFA on previous occasions and could, therefore, not represent the accused in a case in which the association was a listed complainant.
However, Arendse denied there was a conflict of interest, saying he had no existing relationship with SAFA.
The magistrate found that the court had no jurisdiction to order Arendse’s recusal and advised the state to apply to the Legal Practice Council as the relevant body.
The trio’s bail has been extended after the matter was postponed to 7 February for instruction.
ALSO READ:
