SAFA crisis deepens as NEC members face suspension over meeting violence

SAFA have suspended four National Executive Committee (NEC) members following violent clashes that marred last weekend’s meeting, underlining growing instability within the organisation.

Gladwin White and Emma Hendricks from the Northern Cape, along with Monde Montshiwa and Orapeleng Setlhare from North West, were suspended by the Safa Emergency Committee during a late-night sitting in Johannesburg on Friday.

The suspensions, which are pending formal charges, come after chaotic scenes reportedly saw members involved in pushing, shoving and physical altercations during heated exchanges. All four suspended officials are aligned with the Save Our SAFA (SOS) faction, which has been at the forefront of opposition to the current Safa leadership.

According to SABC Sport , the confrontation is understood to have centred around a motion to suspend several NEC members — a proposal brought forward by Football Transformation Forum (FTF) national convenor Tankiso Modipa.

The FTF faction is known to back SAFA president Danny Jordaan in his bid for a fourth term, while SOS has been vocal in opposing his continued leadership. What was meant to be a governance meeting quickly descended into disorder, highlighting the deep divisions that continue to define SAFA’s internal politics.

The Emergency Committee’s decision to suspend the four members is still subject to ratification by the NEC, meaning the matter is far from concluded.

Adding further pressure to the situation, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie publicly criticised the conduct at the meeting and warned that the matter could be escalated to international bodies such as CAF and Fifa, if governance standards are not upheld.

The meeting had also been scheduled to address the approval of Safa’s 2024/2025 audited financial statements, an agenda item that reportedly contributed to the rising tensions among members.

In addition, discussions around dates for the upcoming Ordinary and Constitutional Congresses — key milestones ahead of Safa’s next elections, expected later this year — were also on the table.

The suspended NEC members have already indicated their intention to challenge the ruling, setting the stage for a potentially drawn-out dispute that could further destabilise the federation.

With internal battles intensifying between factions, regional structures and leadership, Safa now faces a critical period that could shape the future direction of football governance in the country. The situation also raises fresh concerns about the federation’s ability to maintain unity and focus on development programmes, as off-field disputes continue to dominate headlines.