SAFA President Danny Jordaan secured six of the eight Eastern Cape regions on Saturday, bolstering his Football Transformation Forum (FTF) platform ahead of the national elective congress in Johannesburg on 12 September.
Following nine endorsements in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, Jordaan remains on track for a second consecutive landslide victory over challenger Sandile Zungu.
Which Eastern Cape and KZN Regions Pledged Support to Danny Jordaan?
Danny Jordaan received overwhelming backing from Eastern Cape football leadership on Saturday, with six of the province’s eight regions endorsing his campaign platform, the Football Transformation Forum (FTF), ahead of next Saturday’s national elective congress.
The supporting Eastern Cape regions include:
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Sarah Baartman
- Buffalo City
- Chris Hani
- OR Tambo
- Alfred Nzo
The Eastern Cape sweep follows a dominant showing in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, where nine of the 11 KZN regions pledged their support to Jordaan’s re-election bid: eThekwini, Umkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo, iLembe, Zululand, Ugu, and uMzinyathi.
Although representatives from Amajuba and Harry Gwala attended the Durban gathering, both regions face internal leadership disputes and currently operate without active presidents. Amajuba will hold emergency regional elections before delegates travel to Johannesburg for the national vote.
SAFA Regional Endorsement Tracker (Eastern Cape & KZN)
┌──────────────────────┬─────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ Province │ Total Regions │ Jordaan / FTF Endorsements │
├──────────────────────┼─────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ Eastern Cape │ 8 │ 6 (75%) │
│ KwaZulu-Natal │ 11 │ 9 (82%) │
└──────────────────────┴─────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
How Does the 2026 SAFA Presidential Race Compare to 2022?
Jordaan, who is seeking his fourth term as SAFA president, faces AmaZulu FC president Sandile Zungu in the 12 September vote. However, Sportswire sources indicate that Jordaan is positioned to secure a margin reminiscent of his 2022 victory at the Sandton Convention Centre.
In 2022, Jordaan defeated Ria Ledwaba and former SAFA Tshwane president Solly Mohlabeng by a decisive margin:
| Candidate | 2022 SAFA Presidential Votes |
| Danny Jordaan | 186 |
| Ria Ledwaba | 27 |
| Solly Mohlabeng | 8 |
“The regions are questioning what is happening with Zungu’s campaign,” an insider told Sportswire.
“No one can point to what he has done for football development in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal. Meanwhile, Danny Jordaan visited all nine provinces with a clear manifesto. Under Jordaan, Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana, and the junior national teams are consistently performing.”
What Is Sandile Zungu’s Strategy Ahead of the National Vote?
While Jordaan continues his regional tour, Zungu convened a press conference in Sandton for Monday. Campaign observers suggest Zungu faces an uphill battle given his limited regional endorsements.
The electorate for the 12 September congress comprises:
- 52 SAFA Regions
- Premier Soccer League (PSL) (Special Member)
- Associate Members (SAB, SASFA, USSA)
SAFA confirmed that delegates from FIFA, CAF, COSAFA, and SASCOC will attend as official observers, alongside Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, the chairman of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, and prominent local football icons.
FIFA and CAF representatives attending the 12 September congress in Sandton hold official observer status under Article 25 of the SAFA Statutes to ensure constitutional adherence following previous election disputes.
Sportswire understands the PSL, holding pivotal block voting power as a special member, intends to maintain stability and cast its ballots for the status quo.
