Sportswire has been informed that SAFA President Danny Jordaan will be in Durban this weekend to make a final plea to the regions ahead of the presidential election in six days’ time.
Jordaan, the former CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will contest the election against AmaZulu President Sandile Zungu, whose candidacy was approved by the SAFA Governance Committee a few days ago.
The SAFA presidential election will take place on 12 September. Although the exact venue has not yet been confirmed, it is set to take place in Johannesburg.
Jordaan is seeking his fourth—and likely final—term as SAFA President, having first been elected in 2013.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether all 11 KwaZulu-Natal regions will attend the meeting, though seven have already expressed their intention to vote for Jordaan.
The SAFA eThekwini region—whose president, Mazwi Mkhize, was re-elected following an electoral congress at Garden Court in January—is also allegedly planning to back Jordaan. It is reported that eThekwini officials were unhappy with Zungu’s campaign strategy, as he failed to engage them when announcing his bid to go toe-to-toe with Jordaan, despite being Durban-born himself.
The voting body for the 12 September election will consist of the 52 SAFA regions, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as a Special Member, and various Associate Members.
SAFA confirmed it has invited several key stakeholders to the Elective Congress, including representatives from FIFA, CAF, COSAFA, and SASCOC, alongside Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, the chairman of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, and local football legends.
Sportswire understands that the PSL, as a special member, is likely to vote to maintain the status quo rather than back a new candidate.
Furthermore, Sportswire has seen a letter from associate member South African Indoor Football Association (SAIFA). Signed by its president and SAFA NEC member, Poobalan Govindasamy, the letter confirms SAIFA’s support for Jordaan’s re-election bid.
“The South African Indoor Football Association (SAIFA), representing the Futsal fraternity, hereby endorses Dr. Danny Jordaan for President of the South African Football Association (SAFA),” the letter states.
“We believe his proven leadership, international experience, and institutional knowledge provide the stability and continuity needed as SAFA reviews and implements Vision 2030. Under his guidance, South African football has advanced in women’s football, youth development, and grassroots structures.
“SAIFA further emphasises the importance of Futsal as a key component of Vision 2030, strengthening schools’ programmes, LFAs, and national pathways. We are committed to working with SAFA to expand opportunities for young players, enhance grassroots football, and build stronger national teams. For youth development, school football, stronger LFAs, and the recognition of Futsal, SAIFA fully supports Dr. Jordaan’s continued leadership.”
