Drama as Safa vice-president Ria Ledwaba opts out of election launch

10 May 2022 - 13:12 By Staff Reporter
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Safa vice president Ria Ledwaba. File photo.
Safa vice president Ria Ledwaba. File photo.
Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

There was drama and an air of despair when attenhding SA sports dignitaries were informed that SA Football Association (Safa) vice-president Ria Ledwaba could not attend her presidential manifesto launch on Tuesday morning.

It was announced at the launch at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, that Ledwaba faced expulsion or suspension if she went ahead and addressed Tuesday's gathering. The launch had been put together for Ledwaba to announce her nomination to contest next month’s Safa presidential election against incumbent Danny Jordaan.

Distinguished former Bafana Bafana player Doctor Khumalo, former SA coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane, former Safa CEO Dennis Mumble and ex-Banyana Banyana star Portia Modise were present to support Ledwaba’s candidacy..

Ledwaba wanted to go ahead with her campaign launch even though Safa warned the nominated candidates not to start canvassing before their names are approved by the independent governance committee, which will oversee the elections. 

Ledwaba was advised by her legal representative, Leruma Thobejane, against addressing the launch as she faced suspension or expulsion.  

“We received a circular last week to prohibit Ria from going ahead and addressing this gathering,” Thobejane said.

“We had a lengthy consultation and as her legal representative, I advised her that if the waters are muddied, do not drink.

“She was insisting on coming to speak because the media, the guests and the public were already invited. I apologise that we denied for people to hear her because of a legal principle.”

Three candidates have been nominated by Safa members to oppose current president Jordaan but there are reports that the trio stand to be disqualified by the governance committee. This may leave Jordaan with no opposition.

The trio are Ledwaba, former vice-president Nomsa Mahlangu and outspoken Safa Tshwane president Ngoako “Solly” Mohlabeng.

Last week, Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe warned the nominated candidates in a letter not to jump the gun by starting to canvass ahead of the presidential elections next month. Motlanthe’s letter says that members who were nominated cannot present themselves to the public before the final list of nominees has been approved by the governance committee.

Some of the members who have seen the letter regard the move as a way to halt the progress of other nominees, with only a few weeks to go before the polls.

The recently-appointed governance committee’s task is to screen all the nominated candidates, including Jordaan, ensuring they tick all the boxes to be eligible to run, and only then they will be vetted to stand in the presidential elections. Motlanthe must release the names of the vetted candidates 14 days before the elections.  

The elections are already marred by controversy with the current leadership accused of blocking potential threats and making constitutional changes aimed at entrenching Jordaan and the current national executive committee in place.

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