RIA LEDWABA REMAINS RESILIENT DESPITE DEFEAT IN SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Ria Ledwaba is no longer the vice-president of the South African Football Association after her defeat in the elections
Ria Ledawaba is still holding her head up high despite losing out on the South African Football Association presidency.
Ledwaba contested the presidency against Danny Jordaan and Solly Mohlabeng. Jordaan won by an outright majority to remain as president for a third term.
“I knew the odds were against me, but I think I fought a good fight. I am not leaving and you are still going to hear a lot from me until Jordaan is out of football,” Ledwaba said.
“I still believe that SAFA needs to change, I also believe that I did not lose. In fact, football has lost a servant. I have been a servant and I was not in SAFA for any positions, I was in SAFA to serve,” she added.
She continued that through her foundation, the Ria Ledwaba Foundation, she would continue to give back to local communities. Ledwaba’s loss also means that she will no longer serve as vice-chairperson of the organisation.
CEO Tebogo Motlanthe confirmed that the vice-president had to be a member of the national executive committee (NEC), reported.
Ledwaba was nominated to contest the presidency but not nominated to stand for the NEC.
“Ria is no longer a member of the national executive committee. So if she’s no longer a member of the NEC she can’t be a vice-president,” Motlanthe said.
SAFA’s newest constitutional amendments also means that only the president could choose the vice-presidents and they could no longer be voted in.
