Former SAFA Vice president Ria Ledwaba has indicated her intentions to challenge the ban from all football activities by the mother body.
According to a letter addressed by CEO Lydia Monyepao, Ledwaba has been disqualified from all football-related activity under the jurisdiction of SAFA.
This comes after the former Ria Stars boss took SAFA to court after the presidential elections in June 2022.
She was seeking to compel the association to go for arbitration over various issues she had raised. Ledwaba was of the view that SAFA doesn’t have the authority to refuse her for arbitration. She was dealt a blow and lost the court bid but has since appealed the decision.
SAFA BAN ITS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT RIA LEDWABA FROM ALL FOOTBALL ACTIVITIES
In a letter dated Wednesday, 6 March SAFA declared Ledwaba a ‘persona non grata’ within the organization.
“After careful consideration and thorough review of recent events, the SAFA National Executive Committee has decided that you are to be declared ‘persona non grata’ within our organization. In other words, you are disqualified from all and every football and football-related activity under the jurisdiction of SAFA,” read the letter seen by FARPost.
But her legal representative, Vernon Seymour, has confirmed to this publication that the matter is far from over. Vernon is also a former President of SAFA Western Cape and a former SAFA NEC member.
THE LEGAL TEAM VOWS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS ATTEMPT TO SILENCE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT
He argues that SAFA should reverse its decision until such time that the appeal is heard.
“She is obviously shocked [by the decision]. They are aware that the matter is being appealed and the matter is sub judice. So therefore why do this?”
“The second reason, which is important, is that Ria Ledwaba has been a leading light in South African football. She has never been tainted by any scandal while she was in the PSL or the region or NEC of SAFA. So this latest move by SAFA simply seems to be a desperate attempt to discredit the good name of Ledwaba. It is old-fashioned character assassination.
“It’s an attempt to silence a critical voice. Somebody who has had no hesitation in calling out SAFA or whoever she has seen something wrong. Whenever she has come across any kind of wrongdoing. She has deemed it as a personal obligation to ensure that SAFA operates properly and in the interest of South Africans.”
He has indicated their intention to take the matter to court if SAFA does not withdraw the ban.
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