Danny Jordaan faces rape rap
SA football boss denies allegations and ‘welcomes criminal proceedings’.
Danny Jordaan, SAFA president. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu /BackpagePix
In the hope that other victims of sexual abuse will be empowered to speak out, musician and former ANC MP Jennifer Ferguson has opened a case of rape against South African Football Association boss Danny Jordaan.
Ferguson has alleged she was raped by Jordaan 24 years ago at a hotel in Port Elizabeth. This has since been denied by his lawyer, who has stated Jordaan will welcome criminal proceedings.
After laying the charge, Ferguson took to Facebook to motivate her decision.
“After many months of deep consideration, consultation and attempts to mediate according to principles of restorative justice as embodied by the Truth and Reconciliation process South Africa has followed, I have decided to lay a charge of rape against Danny Jordaan,” she wrote.
“I do this in the hope that other victims of sexual abuse will be empowered to speak out and act. I do this and ask for your support prayerful, in thought or action for all those affected by his sexual misconduct.
“I also am aware of the distress his family must be experiencing and express my sadness that they are inevitably affected.”
On her blog, jenniferkestisferguson. com, she describes her initial meeting with Jordaan.
“High and happy as the carpet toward our liberation was being rolled out and unexpectedly nominated to the ANC National Parliament, I was invited to sing at a dinner hosted by leading South African sports bodies and representative officials.
“As I recall, there were not many other women present. It was a successful performance and as I was leaving, a man struck up conversation with me.
He was pleasant and entertaining. Danny Jordaan. I accepted his invitation to join him for a drink at the bar, but said I needed to go up to my suite and change from my performance dress,” she wrote.
“He joined me in the lift and said he would wait for me. I felt a little uneasy as he entered my suite, but beckoned him into the lounge and asked him to wait there while I changed.
“I entered my bedroom, closed the door and began to change. A few minutes later the door opened and he entered and without a word grabbed me and forced me onto the bed from behind.
He overpowered me and painfully raped me.
It must have been over in about 20 seconds although it felt like a lifetime.
“He left immediately without saying a word. I was in a state of complete shock and pain. Bewildered.”
Attempts to contact Jordaan were unsuccessful so far.
– yadhanaj@citizen.co.za
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