SAFA vice-president Bennett Bailey likens Danny Jordaan to Nelson Mandela

The SAFA president was arrested on Wednesday and charged on multiple counts of conspiracy, theft, and fraud before being released on R20 000 bail, along with his co-accused Gronie Hluyo and Trevor Neethling, at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court.

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Along with several SAFA National Executive Committee members present in support of the Association's chair, Bailey applauded the co-operation of the accused for appearing in court, somehow likening this to Mandela's arrest and trial in 1962.

''You see, for the mere fact that Dr Jordaan came to court it shows that he is not above the law. He has presented himself like Nelson Mandela did when he was called to appear in court and Dr Jordaan also did that. No one is above the law and he made himself available and he should be respected for that,'' said Bailey.

Pressed on whether the NEC are opening discussions to ask Jordaan to step aside in the wake of these criminal proceedings levelled against him, in order to safeguard the Association's image, Bailey insisted they will not entertain "ghost theories."

''Maybe you know of something we don't know of, there is no such discussions. Maybe you know of something we don't, tell us. Let us not look for ghost, then you want to develop a theory around ghost, there's no such thing,'' added Bailey.

The SAFA Cape Town president further alleged the current proceedings are all part of a plot to overthrow the sitting NEC, beginning with Jordaan.

''And we are here to support him because we know exactly what the agenda is around this, and we will bring that out in court and I hope you will be here when we present the evidence - the agenda is to remove the current executive,'' he expressed. 

While it remains unclear whether Jordaan, at 73 years old, will run for a fourth term, Bailey issued a message to "disgruntled individuals" to wait until the 2026 SAFA Elections to try and unseat the incumbent.