Danny Jordaan has retained his position as president of the South African Football Association for another four years, stretching his tenure beyond the 17-year mark.
The latest congress election proved that despite a mounting challenge from rival Sandile Zungu, Jordaan still maintains a firm grip on the association with his internal backing showing no signs of fading.
He has been the face of SAFA for so long that it is easy to forget who he took the seat from in the first place. Since the association’s inception in 1991, there have been six different presidents and today, we’re going to take a closer look at that list.
Thirty-five years and six bosses, who were they?
SAFA was founded in 1991, with Mluleki George serving as the first president as he oversaw the unification of South African football. He led the association for one year before Professor Lesole Gadinabokao took charge between 1992 and 1994.
Solomon Stix Morewa then took over during a period many consider the golden era of local football. Bafana Bafana lifted the AFCON trophy in 1996 while Morewa was at the helm.
In 1997, Dr Molefi Oliphant took charge. His nine years at the helm saw the country thrive on the global stage, featuring in both the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. It was also under his leadership that South Africa was awarded hosting rights for Africa’s first global showpiece, the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
A year before that tournament, Dr Oliphant chose to step down, with Kirsten Nematandani taking the reins. Nematandani was suspended by the association in 2012 following a match fixing scandal, though he was reinstated in early 2013.
At the 2013 SAFA elective congress, Danny Jordaan defeated Mandla Mazibuko at the ballot boxes, to officially be named as the association’s sixth president.
Jordaan’s spell has been long, filled with highs and lows but very little real progression. The national team showed glimpses of a revival after finishing third at the 2023 AFCON under Hugo Broos, but failed to sustain that momentum.
They did manage to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, though it was a massively expanded tournament offering a much easier path than previous editions.
Now, Jordaan is set for another four years in charge of South African football and has brought in Pitso Mosimane to lead Bafana Bafana, a decision which could change the complexion of his whole tenure.
On the women’s side though, the trajectory for Banyana Banyana is showing no positive signs, and Jordaan needs to seriously shake things up in the women’s game.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
