Sandile Zungu Reveals What Pushed Him Into the SAFA Presidential Race
- Sandile Zungu has opened up about what convinced him to challenge Danny Jordaan for SAFA’s top position
- The AmaZulu president also addressed questions around leadership, accountability and the direction of South African football
- Zungu outlined the wider motivation behind his decision as Saturday’s closely watched election approaches
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Sandile Zungu has explained why he agreed to challenge Danny Jordaan for the South African Football Association (SAFA) presidency, saying his decision was influenced by his views on the direction of football and the interests of Black South Africans.
Zungu, the AmaZulu president, will face incumbent Jordaan at the SAFA elective congress in Midrand on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The Governance Committee previously confirmed that both candidates were eligible to contest the presidency.
In an interview published by iDiski Times on 11 September, Zungu explained that he had strong personal reasons for accepting the challenge.
He said:
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“Trust me, sponsors are watching and therefore it’s sad that sport, which in the general public is perceived to be the black sport. Football in SA is perceived to be black sport.”
Zungu added:
“But the black sport managed by black people, are pulling it to [the] lowest level. And that’s one of the reasons I agreed to put my hand in the ring because I can’t take it.”
Zungu raises leadership and accountability questions
Zungu was also asked whether Jordaan should have stepped aside while facing a fraud case. The matter involving Jordaan and his co-accused has been postponed to 27 November 2026, with those accused continuing to prove their innocence.
Zungu argued that leadership should have played a role in such circumstances.
“Conscience preached in our religious institutions, talks to unembeza in Zulu [conscience], that I’m accused of defrauding my organisation, I have to volunteer to step aside and prove myself in an open process that those accusations are incorrect,” he said.
He also mentioned the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), saying he expected organisations with oversight responsibilities in sport to intervene.
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SAFA election enters final stage
Zungu’s comments come as the contest reaches its final day before Saturday’s vote. He is attempting to end Jordaan’s tenure, which began in 2013.
Earlier this week, Zungu said he was confident his campaign had secured enough regional support to win the election, although the race remains contested.
The outcome will determine who leads SAFA for the next term and comes after weeks of competing claims surrounding regional support and the electoral process.
Sandile Zungu raises fresh SAFA election concerns
Briefly News also reported that Sandile Zungu had raised allegations of threats and intimidation ahead of the SAFA presidential election.
The AmaZulu president claimed some regional leaders were reluctant to publicly reveal their preferred candidate, while also alleging that certain regions had faced attempts to alter their leadership. Zungu said legal consultations were under way over some disputed decisions.
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Source: Briefly News
