Ex-SAFA media officer speaks out on Jordaan's R10 million payment leak
- Martin T
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Former SAFA media officer, Namhla Mphelo, has addressed allegations that she leaked information concerning a R10 million payment to SAFA president Danny Jordaan.
The media officer, recently dismissed from her role as SAFA media officer for allegedly accessing and sharing critical information without authorisation, has denied accusations that she leaked details of the R10 million payment.
Mphelo, who worked for SAFA for 11 years and was suspended in February following these dishonesty allegations, was ultimately fired on April 7 after a disciplinary hearing where she maintained her innocence.
Contesting her dismissal, which she describes as unfair, Mphelo has filed a case against SAFA with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Her case is scheduled to be heard on May 20, 2025, as she seeks to regain her former position.
The alleged unauthorised R10 million payment was reportedly not sanctioned by SAFA’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
“The truth is, I accessed the system; it was within my rights. I was a team manager at the time, [with the] Under 17 girls who went to Gabon for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers," said Mphelo on MSW.
“So, I did access the system, so that part is very true. The unauthorised part is not true, and the sharing with an NEC member is not true. I had the right in my means as the media officer to be looking into things that I did look into.”
She explained that the assumption being made was that her access to the information led to her taking a screenshot of the transaction, which she then disseminated.
“I think it was sensitive information that didn’t sit comfortably with the president that was shared on a WhatsApp group. But it did not come from me. I want to emphasise that part," added Mphelo.
“Even the NEC member who said that he sent the staff admitted to the CEO before I went for DC, and that information was disregarded going into my DC.”
Mphelo contended that the disciplinary hearing was unjust because her requests for the specific policies and communication strategies that would define the inappropriateness of her actions were ignored; she received no such documentation.
