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Danny Jordaan scared of Namhla Mphelo
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Former SAFA media officer Namhla Mphelo has responded to allegations claiming that she leaked information regarding a R10 million payment made to the association's president, Danny Jordaan.
Mphelo, who was recently dismissed for unauthorised access to critical information and sharing it, has denied these accusations.
She has filed a case against the association with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration [CCMA] over what she describes as an unfair dismissal.
After working for SAFA for 11 years, Mphelo is seeking to regain her position. She was suspended in February following accusations of dishonesty and for allegedly accessing and leaking sensitive information about the R10 million payment, which was said to be unauthorised by SAFA's National Executive Committee [NEC].
During her disciplinary hearing, she denied the allegations but was ultimately fired on April 7. Her case is set to be heard on May 20, 2025.
"The truth is, I accessed the system; it was within my rights," Mphelo told MSW. "I was a team manager at the time, [with the] Under 17 girls who went to Gabon for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
"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 added that the assumption was that she was the person who had access and then took a screenshot of the transaction and passed it on.
"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.
"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."
She argued that the hearing was unfair because she had requested policies and communication strategies that would serve as the criteria for determining whether her actions were inappropriate. However, she did not receive any documentation in response to her requests.
In a statement, SAFA dismissed the allegations, labelling them as malicious and mischievous.
The association further said "this latest smear" emanates from someone who accessed the SAFA financial system illegally, misinterpreted the reports they generated, and leaked them to third parties in a bid to generate this false narrative.
"The report that was obtained illegally relates to all payments made to the President since 2007.
"It covers a period of 18 years during which time Dr Danny Jordaan held various positions in SAFA as CEO until 2008, CEO of the World Cup Bid up until 2006, and CEO of the FIFA World Cup from 2006 until 2011.
"It also includes SAFA meeting allowances and honorariums, which were paid to all NEC members over a period exceeding 13 years."
Mphelo, who was recently dismissed for unauthorised access to critical information and sharing it, has denied these accusations.
She has filed a case against the association with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration [CCMA] over what she describes as an unfair dismissal.
After working for SAFA for 11 years, Mphelo is seeking to regain her position. She was suspended in February following accusations of dishonesty and for allegedly accessing and leaking sensitive information about the R10 million payment, which was said to be unauthorised by SAFA's National Executive Committee [NEC].
During her disciplinary hearing, she denied the allegations but was ultimately fired on April 7. Her case is set to be heard on May 20, 2025.
"The truth is, I accessed the system; it was within my rights," Mphelo told MSW. "I was a team manager at the time, [with the] Under 17 girls who went to Gabon for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
"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 added that the assumption was that she was the person who had access and then took a screenshot of the transaction and passed it on.
"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.
"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."
She argued that the hearing was unfair because she had requested policies and communication strategies that would serve as the criteria for determining whether her actions were inappropriate. However, she did not receive any documentation in response to her requests.
In a statement, SAFA dismissed the allegations, labelling them as malicious and mischievous.
The association further said "this latest smear" emanates from someone who accessed the SAFA financial system illegally, misinterpreted the reports they generated, and leaked them to third parties in a bid to generate this false narrative.
"The report that was obtained illegally relates to all payments made to the President since 2007.
"It covers a period of 18 years during which time Dr Danny Jordaan held various positions in SAFA as CEO until 2008, CEO of the World Cup Bid up until 2006, and CEO of the FIFA World Cup from 2006 until 2011.
"It also includes SAFA meeting allowances and honorariums, which were paid to all NEC members over a period exceeding 13 years."
Source - farpost
