Johannesburg – Former Safa CEO Dennis Mumble says that Safa vice-president Gladwyn White’s remarks in Sunday World last week expose the anti-democratic and reactionary tendencies that have engulfed some in the Safa leadership lately.
Mumble said that he had the right to respond to White’s allegations through a letter: “Gladwyn White’s irresponsible statements clearly reveal deeply rooted [sic] anti- democratic tendencies, publicly threatening those who don’t agree with the dictatorial behaviour whilst berating and undermining the media for reporting the news.”
Speaking at a press conference two weeks ago, White said that faceless former Safa officials were conniving against the national association. White also lashed out at the regions which came out and endorsed certain members to run for presidential elections.
Read more: Safa VP Gladwyn White lashes out against faceless critics of Safa
“Those administrators are out of Safa and football and they are now painting an ugly picture to depict Safa. I am proud to say the NEC has appointed a young and dynamic CEO in advocate Tebogo Motlanthe to advance football development in the country. We are doing well apart from his predecessors who are singing things and choruses that we cannot understand,” White said.
Mumble disagreed “Their immediate reaction to being challenged at the polls is to accuse those who want to build Safa up of conniving to destroy it. Safa’s membership will no longer fall for that cheap, childish trick. No number of threats and intimidation will deter our well-funded [from the grassroots] campaign. At least we are not using Safa resources to campaign,” Mumble said.
“We have been approached by many fearful Safa members to do something and we will do everything we can to reclaim the Safa we know and love. We will announce our candidates for national office when the time is right. But, in the meantime, we will contest local and regional elections whether White and his ilk like it or not.”
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