• Safa has fallen behind on bills and now owes R21.3-million to the City of Johannesburg for a property in Olifantsvlei.

• The football body denies it owes that much, but it has already delayed salaries and relied on bailouts for national teams.

The South African Football Association (Safa) could soon lose one of its properties because of unpaid bills.

The football body owes the City of Johannesburg more than R21-million in municipal levies for a property in Olifantsvlei. If Safa does not pay, the city says it will sell the property at auction.

Safa is billed about R11,000 every month but has been paying only small amounts. The last payment was just R2,813 this month. Over time the debt has grown to R21.3-million, City Press reported.

The City of Johannesburg warned Safa’s chief financial officer, Gronie Hluyo, that it will ask the high court for permission to auction the property. In its letter the city said Safa had “refused and neglected to make payment” despite repeated demands.

Safa says it does not owe that much money. “We are aware of it, and we are disputing it. We do not owe that much,” the association said.

The money crisis adds to Safa’s other troubles. Its president, Danny Jordaan, is facing fraud charges and Hluyo is one of his co-accused. Police also raided Safa’s headquarters in Nasrec recently over claims of irregular spending and misuse of funds.

Safa has struggled financially for years. In March, staff salaries were delayed because of a lack of money.

Last year, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie had to advance R5-million to pay outstanding bonuses for Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana players.

Pictured above: Safa’s headquarters in Nasrec, Johannesburg.

Image source: Safa