JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 20: Ria Ledwaba during the media engagement in response to her unconstitutional ban from football at Empowaworx House, Randburg on March 20, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Former SAFA Vice President Ria Ledwaba has revealed what she believes is the motive behind her ban by the organization, which has been withdrawn with conditions.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) initially banned Ledwaba after they declared her ‘persona non grata’ but later changed their stance and uplifted the ban.
“By virtue of the fact that you are nowhere within the structures of Safa with no locus standi and as such we have no jurisdiction over you, we regret having sent you the letter dated 06 March 2024, which is hereby withdrawn,” Lawyer representing Ledwaba, Leslie Sedibe, who is also a former SAFA CEO, revealed the content of the letter addressed to the former club owner by the mother body, in a press conference.
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“However, if and when you wish to become active in South African football or any of its structures, then we reserve our right to take the appropriate legal action in terms of the Safa statutes and regulations.”
The former Ria Stars club boss has admitted that her initial ban by SAFA is a power struggle between her and Danny Jordaan, after she challenged him for the 2022 presidential elections.
“What you see now in football, is some of the money I spent to try and bring football to where it is today. Now you say I’m banned. Basically, they are saying I’m banned from all football activities in this country,” Ledwaba opened up on The Hustlers Corner SA Podcast.
“I’m banned because I’m raising my voice on issues and those issues will never go away. If I’m declared a persona non grata, what about the president (Jordaan) who’s got a case of alleged rape? Is it not even worse? SAFA simply wants to silence me.
“It’s a struggle for Ria and it pains me. I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing this for our young boys and girls that are coming up, they must never fight the same battle we’re fighting. We can’t have a one-man show running an organization,” she added.
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“We had a very mutual relationship. I think he lost it when he heard that my name is called to challenge him (in the 2022 presidential elections). That’s where he lost it. There’s one meeting he showed me a scan of his brain and he said to me, ‘Look at this scan.’ I can’t remember whether on the left or the right, but something to do with your brain is more effective on the left or the right.
“What it means is that you don’t believe in anybody, you only believe in yourself,” said Ledwaba.
Ledwaba is still contesting the outcome of the 2022 presidential elections after she took SAFA to court for alleged irregularities in the amendment of the constitution leading up to the elections.
After she was not successful at the South Gauteng High Court Division, she has filed for appeal.
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