The Pretoria High Court dismissed former South Afriican Football Association (Safa) vice president Ria Ledwaba and Solly Mohlabeng’s attempt to challenge the outcome of the 2002 Safa’s elective congress. The court dismissed the application with costs on Friday.
The duo was challenging the validity of the Safa presidential elections, where incumbent Danny Jordaan came out triumphant. He was elected president for his third term. They were seeking arbitration. And had approached the court for an order compelling Safa to convene an arbitration tribunal.
Not in line with Safa constitution
Ledwaba and Mohlabeng were adamant that the elections were not held in terms of the Safa constitution. They argued that the governance committee that was created in the new constitution amendments had not been properly appointed in terms of the constitution. They also wanted the outcome of the elections to be declared null and void.
At the time, Safa, represented by legal SC Norman Arendse, argued that both Ledwaba and Mohlabeng are not members of Safa. He said they had a dispute resolution process available to them, and they waived their rights.
Application dismissed with costs
Said Safa’s legal representative, Lesedi Mphahlele, after Friday’s ruling: “This was the first issue that they wanted the court to decide. In the second issue, they wanted the court to order that the issues be referred to a Safa arbitration. These issues are around the so-called unconstitutionality of the elections. They have lost both of them, and the court has dismissed their application with costs. They dismissed the application with costs. Including the costs of two advocates, one being a senior advocate.”
Elections were transparent
Safa proclaims that the 2002 elections were held under the watchful eye of the world football governing body, Fifa. Also the Confederation of African Football, and that the congress was a huge success.
Jordaan received 186 votes to comfortably win the elective race. His rivals, Ledwaba and Mohlabeng, received 27 votes and eight, respectively.
