By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former SAFA Vice president Ria Ledwaba has been banned from participating in any football activities under the jurisdiction of the mother body.
In a letter dated Wednesday, 6 March SAFA declared Ledwaba a ‘persona non grata’ within the organization.
“After careful consideration and thorough review of recent events, the SAFA National Executive Committee has decided that you are to be declared ‘persona non grata’ within our organization. In other words, you are disqualified from all and every football and football-related activity under the jurisdiction of SAFA,”read the letter that Fullview seen.
Ledwaba’s legal representative, Vernon Seymour, is also a former President of SAFA Western Cape and a former SAFA NEC member says SAFA should reverse its decision until such time that the appeal is heard.
“She is obviously shocked [by the decision]. They are aware that the matter is being appealed and the matter is sub judice. So therefore why do this?”
“The second reason, which is important, is that Ria Ledwaba has been a leading light in South African football. She has never been tainted by any scandal while she was in the PSL or the region or NEC of SAFA. So this latest move by SAFA simply seems to be a desperate attempt to discredit the good name of Ledwaba.
“It’s an attempt to silence a critical voice. Somebody who has had no hesitation in calling out SAFA or whoever she has seen something wrong. Whenever she has come across any kind of wrongdoing. She has deemed it as a personal obligation to ensure that SAFA operates properly and in the interest of South Africans.”
He has indicated their intention to take the matter to court if SAFA does not withdraw the ban.
Last Friday, the Hawks raided Safa House, the home of the South African Football Association, and seized a laptop, external hard drives, a USB and other documents.
According to a statement released by the Hawks,”the allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of Safa [Jordaan] used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain, including hiring a private security company for his personal protection and a public relations company without authorisation from the Safa board”.
In the latest twist, Safa said it will institute a civil action for defamation of character after Jordaan was accused of fraud and theft amounting to R1,3 million.
Ledwaba insisted that Safa’s executive members were aware of the issues but were scared to talk. “There’s nothing wrong with Safa; the problem is the president [Jordaan]. The raid was long overdue and they know exactly who opened the case against the president.
“It all started in 2020 when the former Safa executive member Willie Mooka opened a criminal charge against Jordaan,” claimed Ledwaba.