Safa ‘ignores’ pleas by student activists to fire Jordaan
Singer Ferguson has laid a rape charge against soccer boss
Calls by a group of student activists for SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan to step down was ignored by the organisation yesterday.
Four University of Johannesburg students picketed outside Safa headquarters in Johannesburg, calling for the organisation to take action against Jordaan, who stands accused of rape.
This was after singer and former MP Jennifer Ferguson laid a rape charge against Jordaan four days ago in connection with an alleged incident which happened inside a Port Elizabeth hotel in 1994.
Yesterday, the students stood outside Safa gates holding placards with slogans like “Danny, Banyana are Scared of You”, and “Danny, Step Down. Today!!!” written on them.
One of the students, Aluwani Chokoe, 22, said they decided to picket to show their stand against sexual abuse.
“Men who are in positions of great power always get away with rape. As women, we are sick and tired of our bodies being turned into battlefields by these men,” Chokoe said.
She said although Ferguson had been criticised for only reporting the case after more than 20 years, they believed she deserved public support.
Palesa Setsubi, 22, said they wanted to send a clear message to Safa. “We are here to stand against the rape culture and believe that Safa needs to take action,” Setsubi said.
She said they were not discouraged by the fact that there were only four of them. “There might be a few of us but our voices can make a difference.”
Welcome Nkabinde, who was the only male in the group, said he came to show his support for rape victims.
Safa spokesman Dominic Chimhavi said they would not change their decision based on the whims of four people.
“A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. That is our position. Danny Jordaan remains the president of Safa, nothing changes.”
‘‘ Men who are in positions of great power always get away with rape