At
a meeting of the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) Emergency
Committee held on Friday, 14 December 2012, and finalised on Sunday, 16
December, a number of far-reaching decisions were taken concerning the Report
on Match Fixing compiled by FIFA Investigators and received by SAFA on Friday,
14 December.
Firstly,
the Emergency Committee considered and accepted the Report as received.
Secondly,
the Committee resolved to write to FIFA and acknowledge that, through the
actions of members of its staff during the warm-up matches prior to the FIFA
2010 World Cup, there is a prima facie breach of FIFA Statute 13.1 (g), which
prohibits the control of its affairs by an outside party, in this case Football
4U International controlled by Singaporean Wilson Perumal Raj and his criminal
syndicate.
The
Committee also noted that the appointment of Football 4U International was
never brought to the attention of the SAFA NEC.
SAFA
apologised to FIFA, and undertook to take the urgent and serious actions to
deal with the matter.
The following actions
were agreed:
1.
That a Commission of Enquiry be set up, under the leadership of a retired
Judge, to fully investigate the matter and the members cited in the report, and
that this Commission sit as a matter of urgency so that the issue can be
speedily resolved.
2. After extensive discussion, the Emergency
Committee felt that the President would have to appear before the Commission of
Enquiry to explain his role in the matter. Having considered the implications
of this for SAFA, the Committee asked the President to take a voluntary leave
of absence from his position.
3.
That Vice-President, Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, be asked to act as President in
the interim.
4.
That all members of staff mentioned in the report who will need to give
evidence at the Commission are likewise put on special administrative leave
pending the finalisation of the Enquiry, or pending receiving a clearance from
the Commission. This action in no way implies that these individuals were
involved in Match fixing. It is again simply for good governance that this
measure is being implemented. The members of staff so affected are: Dennis
Mumble, Lindile ‘Ace’ Kika, Adeel Carelse and Barney Kujane.
5.The
former CEO, Lesley Sedibe, and the former Head of Referees, Mr Steve Goddard,
will also be asked to give evidence and cooperate with the Enquiry.
6.That
Pinky Lehoko is appointed as Acting CEO in the interim.
Outgoing
CEO, DR Robin Petersen, stated that these decisions were necessary for good
governance and for allowing this matter to be thoroughly and properly
investigated. Although he will be assuming his new role as CEO of the SAFA
Development Agency in January 2013, he will be based in the SAFA offices and
will work closely with Ms Lehoko in the interim period.
Chief Nonkonyana had
the following to say:
“This
is a difficult situation for the Association, and for those who have been named
in the report. We hope that there will be no speculation about their presumed
guilt or otherwise. We need to allow the investigation to take place speedily
and fairly, so those that are innocent can be separated from those who are
not.”
