Herman Mashaba Says South Africa ‘Rewards Criminality’ After Danny Jordaan Re-elected
- Herman Mashaba has reacted strongly to Danny Jordaan’s latest SAFA election victory after he defeated Zandile Zungu
- The ActionSA president linked the result to his longstanding concerns about accountability
- Mashaba’s comments have prompted debate over Jordaan’s re-election and the role of democracy
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ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has accused South Africa of “rewarding” criminality after Danny Jordaan was re-elected as South African Football Association (SAFA) president.
Jordaan defeated Sandile Zungu by 157 votes to 82 at the SAFA elective congress in Midrand on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The result secured him a fourth term after he first became president of the football governing body in 2013.
Mashaba reacted to the announcement on X, writing:
“It is evident that South Africa doesn’t just tolerate criminality; we reward it and proudly normalise it.”
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The comment came as Jordaan continues to face criminal proceedings relating to allegations involving SAFA funds. Jordaan has denied wrongdoing, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
ActionSA leader’s political background adds context
Mashaba’s comments come from a politician whose public career has repeatedly focused on governance, accountability and corruption.
He founded ActionSA in August 2020 after leaving the Democratic Alliance (DA), having served as Johannesburg’s executive mayor from 2016 to 2019. ActionSA describes itself as an alternative to what it calls a political system affected by corruption and poor governance.
Mashaba has also returned to Johannesburg politics in 2026. ActionSA selected him as its mayoral candidate for the city’s upcoming local government elections, with his campaign centred heavily on fixing what he describes as corruption and governance failures.
Mashaba defends his position
The ActionSA leader faced pushback from some social media users who argued that Jordaan had been democratically elected and that the result should be respected.
One user told Mashaba:
“Dr Danny Jordaan was democratically elected. Your role as a leader is to congratulate him. That is understanding and respecting democracy.”
Mashaba responded by defending his position, saying:
“I am a concerned citizen and a leader who stands by truth, not lies, for the sake of self-interest. For Herman Mashaba, truth and accountability are non-negotiable.”
Jordaan’s re-election gives him another four-year mandate at SAFA, while his ongoing legal case and questions about the organisation’s governance are likely to remain part of the public discussion.
The election therefore marks both a continuation of Jordaan’s leadership and another chapter in the debate over accountability within South African football.
Herman Mashaba and Helen Zille clash over Johannesburg mayoral race
Briefly News previously reported that Herman Mashaba had taken aim at Helen Zille as the Johannesburg mayoral race began to take shape.
Mashaba questioned whether Zille could win the metro without securing meaningful support in Soweto, saying her approach to the race would face a difficult test in one of Johannesburg’s biggest electoral areas.
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Source: Briefly News
