Former NEC member Buddha Mathathe accuses Safa of vote-buying to secure Danny Jordaan’s re-election

Jordaan’s knowledge of the election procedures – which included securing votes from the regions, associate members, special members, and the PSL – was expected to swing the votes in his favor, as he had long mobilised his campaign.

However, scrutiny engulfed the elections on their eve as reports emerged that four regions – Harry Gwala, Sarah Baartman, Pixley ka Seme, and Amajuba – and associate member Samlfa, who were reportedly endorsing Zungu, were barred from voting due to various issues.

Moreover, the fact that Safa – as initially revealed by Cape Town chairperson Bennet Bailey – decided to pay the annual honorariums a few days before the elective congress didn’t sit well with some stakeholders. Mathathe was among those who used this timing to launch serious allegations against Jordaan.

“It then confirms what we are saying about vote-buying,” Mathathe told IOL Sport, following revelations that each NEC member was paid R153 000, which totaled around R6 million for all members. 

“All NEC members – 39 of them – were paid. I am sure it’s only one or two that didn’t get it. But all those who got it, voted for him. The honorarium was over and above the benefits that they’ve been getting. It was just to cement their support and make sure that they look at only the incumbent.

“It was meant to say: ‘If you do this, these are the benefits that you are going to get.’”

Mathathe also received his honorarium as an NEC member at the time. However, he revealed that were it not for his close friend and NEC finance chairperson, Mxolisi Sibam, perhaps that wouldn’t have been possible.

“On Thursday, the chairman of the finance committee called me and said: ‘Buddha, I am aware you are not going to come back to the new NEC. But as a friend and legend, it would be an injustice and it would haunt me for the rest of my life if I didn’t tell you (about the honorarium)’,” Mathathe added.

“He asked me: ‘Did you get your honorarium?’ I said: ‘No, nobody has spoken about an honorarium.’ He said, ‘Do me a favour: phone the CFO, Gronie Hluyo, and ask him about the honorarium.’ I called Gronie, and he said: ‘Ah, legend, we forgot … Can you please send a text?’ This was on Thursday. I then got it Saturday morning.”

What brought further scrutiny to the timing of the honorariums is the fact that Bafana Bafana are still owed bonuses for their World Cup participation and historic Round of 16 finish, after Safa claimed the funds haven’t cleared due to tax compliance issues.

Mathathe has dismissed those reasons, further claiming that the majority of the NEC members – who also serve as chairpersons of their regions  – were paid honorariums to swing votes in Jordaan’s favor.

“The tax issue is a self-created story,” Mathathe said. “If they were serious about bonuses, the money that was paid for the honorariums should have been used to pay the player bonuses. That’s where it should have started. It’s a smokescreen. These current NEC members – to a large extent – made a huge difference. There are usually 39 NEC members, but that wasn’t the case –I was not there, nor were the other four that were suspended.”