SAFA’s reaction to latest court outcome involving Ria Ledwaba
The Supreme Court of Appeal ruling has dismissed the application for leave to appeal by former SAFA vice president Ria Ledwaba with regard to the 2022 presidential electoral outcome.
The 2022 SAFA elections saw current president Danny Jordaan re-elected for a third term. Jordaan received overwhelming support with 186 votes, while Ledwaba received 27 votes and Solly Mohlabeng [8].
Following the results, Ledwaba and Mohlabeng launched an application at the Pretoria division of the High Court, raising irregularities in the constitution amendment that led to the Elective Congress.
RIA LEDWABA AND SOLLY MOHLABENG CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE THE 2022 ELECTIVE CONGRESS
In 2024, Judge Holland-Muter dismissed their application with costs. Ledwaba and Mohlabeng filed for leave to appeal, which was heard in December 2024.
But the court again ruled against them. In January this year, the pair filed for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal, citing that their non-existent rights to invoke SAFA’s statuses were refused and violated.
On 25 March 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed their application with costs on grounds of no reasonable prospects of success.
SAFA RELIEVED FOLLOWING SUPREME COURT OF APPEAL RULING
“There needs to come a time where the electorate’s voting choices are accepted and respected by Ledwaba and Mohlabeng, even if the said choices do not correlate with their desired outcome. For democracy is only as strong as our willingness to honour its outcome[s],” said SAFA on Saturday.
“Since inception, the courts have been clear in their unequivocal rejection of the continued efforts by Ledwaba and Mohlabeng to disrupt the administration of football in the country, as well as to undermine the processes of SAFA.
“This marks the sixth time in just two years that Ledwaba and Mohlabeng failed in their legal attempts to disrupt SAFA. Their consecutive court defeats expose her ongoing attempts to distract SAFA from its commitment to develop football in the country and beyond.”
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