73 years old, South African Football Association’s President Danny Jordaan, Chief Financial Officer, 55 years old Gronnie Hluyo and 46 years old businessman, Trevor Neethling and his company Grit Communications made their first appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge Magistrates today on charges of fraud and theft.
The appearance is consequent to the trio’s arrest earlier this morning in Johanmesburg after warrants were issued for them following an intensive investigation by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based in Johannesburg into allegations of R1.3 million fraud and theft.
The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organization’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.
The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation charged with probing the allegations executed search seizure warrants, 08 March 2024 at the South African Football Association’s office where an assortment of electronic gadgets and files were seized for further investigation thus leading to the arrest.
The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court granted R20 000 bail each with conditions.
The conditions imposed included that the trio should not interefere with the witnesses, Neethling and Hluyo to surrender their passports to the investigating officer, Dr Jordaan was allowed to retain his passport, must report to the court before travel and until such time that his position at SAFA changes, the condition will be revised.
In relation to outside travel Dr Jordaan should avail himself to the court. Neethling and Hluyo should apply to the court to travel outside the Republic of South Africa as the need arises and not to change their verified addresses.
The case was postponed to the 05 December 2024 for docket disclosure.