Thabiso Goba14 November 2024 | 5:05

Court allows Jordaan to keep his passport due to frequent travels

Jordaan appeared at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge on Wednesday alongside his co-accused.

Court allows Jordaan to keep his passport due to frequent travels

Jordaan appeared at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge on Wednesday afternoon. His two co-accused are SAFA chief financial officer, Gronie Hluyo, and businessman, Trevor Neethling. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN

JOHANNESBURG - Fraud-accused president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan has been allowed to keep his passport due to the frequent travels of his job. 

Jordaan appeared at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge on Wednesday alongside SAFA Chief Financial Officer, Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling.

The trio is accused of defrauding SAFA of R1.3 million.

It's alleged between 2017 and 2019, Jordaan hired private security guards and a PR firm for his personal benefit using SAFA funds. 

READ: Danny Jordaan's co-accused says he's collateral damage of infighting within SAFA

While Hluyo and Neethling surrendered their passports as part of their bail applications, Jordaan did not. 

Jordaan's lawyer, Victor Nkwashu, said giving up his passport would affect his ability to do his job as SAFA president.

He does extensive travels, he attends meetings of the Confederation of Football - CAF, FIFA, he attends a meeting at a lot of sporting events which involve soccer. Ever since he knew about this investigation he has never attempted to evade arrest or prosecution," said Nkwashu.

Magistrate Phillip Venter said Jordaan should write a detailed letter to the investigating officer every time he travels out of the country. 

Jordaan and his two co-accused were released on R20,000 bail each, with the matter returning to court on 5 December.