The Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) has had to broker an agreement at the request of FIFA after the legality of South African Football Association’s (SAFA) Presidential elections was challenged, causing the country’s Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) to refuse to oversee them. Ace Ncobo, former referee and General Manager of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL), had put himself forward as a candidate in SAFA’s Presidential elections, but argues that the elections scheduled for 24 March were in breach of SAFA’s own Electoral Code and Statutes.

COSAFA appears to have upheld Ncobo’s complaint, which was that under SAFA’s Statutes, an Electoral Committee has to be appointed six months before an election can take place. Ncobo argues that this was not done, which would mean that the earliest the SAFA Presidential election could take place is 24 August this year. However, a SAFA statement appeared to indicate that the Elective Congress would take place as planned on 24 March, after an Electoral Committee is appointed.

‘The ordinary general assembly at which the Committee is elected shall take place at least six months before the elective general assembly at which the executive body is elected’, reads a cached version of Article 4(c) of the SAFA Electoral Code, which has been removed from the SAFA internet site. ‘Election by the general assembly makes it possible to ensure greater transparency and impartiality and to avoid the possibility of a body of SAFA appointing or nominating the Electoral Committee because it is possible that the members of the body may later stand as candidates for elected posts’. The SAFA Electoral Code is a mirror of  Article 4(c) of the FIFA Electoral Code.

It is understood that the Presidential elections were initially scheduled for September this year, however were brought forward by SAFA in a decision taken in December last year. This led to Ncobo filing his candidature in protest against against the electoral process being manipulated, which he argues is to ensure that Danny Jordan (pictured) serves a second term as SAFA President. “This was the first time I met Ace”, said COSAFA President Phillip Chiyangwa in the body’s statement. “He is a good guy who made it clear he is not interested in the Presidency”.

In case we forgot. No Eectoral Committe. No Congress. It can't be appointed nor nominated. It must be ELECTED. 6 months prior. pic.twitter.com/3qKVeZ2U2P

— Ace Ncobo (@AceNcobo) March 12, 2018

It is understood that others have been prohibited from standing for election as SAFA President. These reportedly include former SAFA Vice President Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana; former national team player Lucas Radebe; ex-national team coach Shakes Mashaba; and businessman Tokyo Sexwale – who stood as a FIFA Presidential candidate – have been prohibited from standing for election as SAFA President. As well as removing its Electoral Code from its internet site, SAFA has threatened legal action against the IEC for refusing to oversee the 24 March election.

Ace Ncobo Press Statement on Fifa Intervention pic.twitter.com/OB8tTbiul7

— Ace Ncobo (@AceNcobo) March 15, 2018