SAFA Election Controversy: Former NEC Member Alleges Vote-Buying to Back Danny Jordaan
- Ex-SAFA NEC member Jacob 'Buddha' Mathathe accused the football body of using R6 million in honorarium payments to influence its elective congress
- Each of the 39 NEC members received R153,000 shortly before Danny Jordaan was re-elected for an unprecedented fourth term
- Mathathe claimed the timing of the payments stands in sharp contrast to unpaid Bafana Bafana World Cup bonuses
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Former South African Football Association NEC member Jacob "Buddha" Mathathe has publicly alleged that honorarium payments totalling approximately R6 million were deliberately timed to secure votes for Safa president Danny Jordaan ahead of last weekend's elective congress.
Jordaan was returned to office for a historic fourth consecutive term, defeating challenger Sandile Zungu by 157 votes to 82.
Mathathe's vote-buying allegations
Mathathe, speaking to IOL Sport, claimed that the R153,000 payment made to each of the 39 NEC members shortly before the congress was not a coincidence and amounted to vote-buying.
He alleged that almost every NEC member received the payment and claimed those who benefited subsequently supported the incumbent. According to Mathathe, the honorarium was separate from the benefits members were already receiving and was intended to strengthen their backing for the incumbent.
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Mathathe further argued that the payments sent an implicit message that NEC members would receive benefits if they supported the incumbent.
Although Mathathe also received an honorarium, he said he was unaware of the payment until Safa finance committee chairperson Mxolisi Sibam contacted him personally.
Mathathe said Sibam informed him on Thursday that, despite knowing he would not return to the new NEC, he believed it would be unfair not to tell him about the honorarium. Mathathe subsequently contacted Safa CFO Gronie Hluyo and received the payment on Saturday morning.
Bafana Bafana bonus dispute
The timing of the honorarium payments has come under further scrutiny because Bafana Bafana players are still waiting for bonuses linked to South Africa’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including their historic Round of 16 appearance. SAFA has blamed unresolved tax compliance matters for the delay.
Mathathe dismissed that explanation, arguing that the tax issue was created by SAFA itself. He maintained that if the organisation had been serious about settling the players’ bonuses, the funds used for the honorarium payments could instead have been directed towards those outstanding bonuses. He described the tax explanation as a smokescreen.
Mathathe also claimed that several NEC members who simultaneously served as regional chairpersons played an influential role in determining the election result. The congress was further surrounded by controversy after four regions — Harry Gwala, Sarah Baartman, Pixley ka Seme and Amajuba, as well as associate member Samlfa- were prevented from voting despite reports that they had supported Zungu.
Sandile Zungu’s SAFA election response
Briefly News previously reported that Sandile Zungu had responded to his election loss with a message thanking those who backed his campaign.
The AmaZulu chairperson said he remained in “very high spirits” after the contest, while acknowledging that elections can produce both victories and defeats. He also indicated that he would take time to consider what comes next.
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Source: Briefly News
