Date For SAFA Elections Set?

The date for the South African Football Association (SAFA) elective congress has been set for the 25th of June 2022, pending the approval of the organisation’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

iDiski Times learnt this week that following last week’s SAFA Extraordinary Congress held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, the local football mother body was now pushing ahead to the elective congress, which will only be less than three months from now. 

This publication has seen a circular which has been going for roundtable around the NEC members where they are asked to agree or disagree with the proposed date, with the deadline set for Monday, 04 April 2022. 

Judging by the passing of the constitutional amendments at the Congress last week, it’s highly unlikely that anything would change from the proposed date. 

SAFA elections are never without drama, already last week a proposal from the Vhembe region to review the policy which blocks the Chairman of the National Soccer League (NSL) from contesting the SAFA Presidency was defeated at the Congress. It is also worth noting that this rule has been in place since 2013. 

By bringing the date of the elections forward, it means it’s advantage to the incumbent Danny Jordaan to retain his SAFA Presidency position as some of his opponents would not have enough time to campaign, just like it happened in 2018 with then Presidential candidate Andile “Ace” Ncobo. Jordaan, who turns 70 later this year, would be going for his third term since he took over in 2013 and would also become the first SAFA President to serve three terms should he be successful. 

SAFA-Vice President Ria Ledwaba, who became the first female VP at SAFA in 2018, has been touted to challenge Jordaan at the polls and on social media this week, posters of her presidential campaign went up on a Twitter account with the handle @SAFAPrez2022 . 

Chippa United chairman Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi had also been reported to be in the running for the Presidential contest but the tightening of the SAFA constitution last week, means that it won’t be possible for him to be eligible for the main seat.  

The announcement of the date, would also be followed by the opening of the nominations which would see the 52 SAFA regions and associate members submitting their preferred candidates to the office of SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe who would then put them together and handover to the new Governance Committee to scrutinise their eligibility for the elections. 

Speaking on SAFM’s Sport On show with Thabiso Mosia earlier this week, Motlanthe did hint that the date for the SAFA elections could be closer than expected. Most of the previous SAFA elective congresses have taken place around September and October. 

“As far as the resolution of the Congress was, it was decided that the elections should not be later than 30 August 2022. I must assess because there are regions which have not gone through elections. 

“So I will be making a recommendation to the NEC because they are the decision makers between Congresses. And it is to say to them, having assessed everything from an administration point and compliance issues, this is the date which I would suggest,” said Motlanthe when asked about the elections date earlier this week. 

And according to the new statutes, only the SAFA regions and not the associate members can nominate a candidate for the Presidential position. 

The new SAFA NEC will have a bloated Council of 45 members from the current 34, following the amendment of the constitution last week.  

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