Jordaan’s late bid to halt arrest was flawed – NPA

‘Safa president application had defects ... it did not even have a case number’

Beleaguered Safa president Danny Jordaan’s 11th hour attempt to halt his arrest and prosecution failed because it had flaws.

This was revealed by National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane on Wednesday after Jordaan and his co-accused – Safa CFO Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling – appeared in the Palm Ridge magistrate’s court.

The three, who were charged with three counts of fraud, three counts of theft and conspiracy to commit fraud and theft, were granted R20,000 bail each.

On Tuesday, Sowetan reported that Jordaan had filed an urgent application to interdict his arrest and prosecution. The application will be heard on Thursday at the Johannesburg high court. “The application had [defects] as it did not have a case number,” said Mjonondwane.

“So, although we were served, the application had flaws and there was nothing stopping Hawks from executing the warrants of arrest. It was an application and not a court interdict.”

At the centre of the case is the allegation that Jordaan and Hluyo spent R1.3m of Safa money without authorisation. A search and seizure operation at Safa offices on March 8 was related to the appointment of two service providers, Grit Communications, owned by Neethling, and Badger Security.

Grit was hired to spruce up Jordaan’s image at the height of damning allegations against him. At the time, he was facing allegations including rape accusations made by singer Jennifer Ferguson.

In its report to Safa in the first 16 months of its work, the PR firm detailed how it sought to soften the blow of perceived hostile media coverage, and to place Jordaan at the centre of revival of the battered image of the football controlling organisation.

So, although we were served, the application had flaws and there was nothing stopping Hawks from executing the warrants of arrest.NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane

Jordaan said Grit was appointed to safeguard “the good name and reputation of Safa” between October 2017 and August 2019, and paid R1.3m over a three-year period. He said the payment was accounted for in Safa’s annual financial statements.

In his affidavit, Jordaan said the intended arrest was communicated on November 7 to his attorney Victor Nkwashu by a “Captain Magano”. He argued in his affidavit that the case was based on the search and seizure operation, which he was currently challenging in court. He argued that the case could only be on the court roll after a determination has been made on that matter.

During bail application on Wednesday, Jordaan said: “I intend to plead not guilty to the charges. I have not committed those offences. I have no intention to live abroad. It is in the interest of justice for me to get bail. My release will not disturb public order.”

Neethling told the court that the charges were set to fight “internal battles” at Safa. “It’s clear these allegations are from people who have a personal vendetta with Jordaan,” he said.

Granting the trio bail, magistrate Phillip Venter said it was safe to say all the applicants were verified, and that they are not flight risks.

Jordaan was ordered to keep his passport because of his job, while Neethling and Hluyo were ordered to hand in theirs.

Venter said Jordaan could travel for work. “Mr Jordaan, any travels of which I am going to discuss in a moment now, you need to make yourself available for court. If that means you cannot attend a trip representing Safa, unfortunately that’s how it is going to be,” he said.

“You must provide the investigating officer with a written itinerary of your departure and return flights and your destination at least 72 hours prior to your departure ... These travels must be limited for official duties affiliated to Safa only..."

He warned the accused not to make any contact directly or indirectly with the witnesses. "If for any strange reason you see one of these people [witnesses], approach you in the mall or wherever you are walking , please turn and walk off." 

The case was postponed to December 5.

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