Chronicle Editor
Safa president Danny Jordaan has tightened his grip on power, with the 30th ordinary congress in Sandton on Saturday upholding a raft of key constitutional amendments.
The congress upheld that national executive committee members should vote in an elective congress and the chairperson of the National Soccer League (NSL) can’t contest the Safa presidency.
The new amendment passed states that Safa vice-presidents can’t be elected by the congress, but by the president, in accordance with Caf and Fifa statutes.
Safa ethics and legal eagle Poobalan Govindasamy said upholding of constitutional amendments was the culmination of work they have been doing since 2018.
“Today was a groundbreaking meeting in that the constitutional amendments process that we embarked on since 2018 were finalised at this meeting. There were three to four amendments from members that were defeated again.
“That concerns the voting in respect of NEC members, whether the president of the NSL or PSL can become the president of Safa, and that position remain the same because the motion was defeated.
“That motion was defeated by the majority, and there were only three members who were in favour of it. In so far as the other amendments were concerned, they were groundbreaking because they take the association forward for the next 10 years,” said Govindasamy.
Safa chief executive Tebogo Motlanthe explained that the association’s finances are in good health after reporting a surplus for the past two financial years.
“I am happy to report that for the financial years of 2020 and this current one we are reporting a surplus. For 2020, we are reporting R54 million, which we have already communicated, and for this year we are reporting R1 million, which is good for the association.”
Motlanthe said congress also agreed that Safa Tshwane president Ngoako Mohlabeng be suspended pending disciplinary action for not following proper congress protocols.
“He wanted to speak before the meeting can even start. The agenda of this congress is prescribed by the statutes and the first item is that the chief executive of Safa must say if the congress was in compliance with the statutes.
“He was asked on numerous occasions to refrain from speaking from the floor, because we were dealing with the constitutionality of the congress, and he didn’t want to stop.
“He continued to disrespect orders from the president [Jordaan] and there was no choice but to ask security to take him out of the meeting.
“As a result of this, there was a move from delegates to say that his behaviour was unwarranted and they quoted the statutes. So, congress resolved that he must be charged and my office will be in touch with him where I will be sending him the charge sheet
“He must appear before the Disciplinary Hearing (DC) for his behaviour because the congress felt that he disrespected the meeting.”
Motlanthe also indicated that the hugely anticipated Safa elective congress will take place before the end of August.
“The date of the elections has been given to me, but we still have regions that still go to elections. After I have made a proper assessment, I will write to members suggesting the dates. But the resolution of the congress is that it must not be later than the 30th of August.” — TimesLive
Online Reporter