Nelson Mandela Bay Executive mayor and SAFA president, Danny Jordaan, has broken his silence on the Fifa corruption scandal.
Speaking on the DMB on Algoa FM on Tuesday morning, Jordaan also gave the first indication that he would be dealing with the issue in a comprehensive way when the time is right.
"It has got nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me. You saw the government said this matter is going to be dealt with by the government. The money ($10m) was not paid from South Africa, the money was paid from Zurich. It was authorised by the Fifa finance committee and if you look at the indictment my name is not in that indictment. But, for party political reasons my name was inserted."
"I have run two World Cup's by the way. We lost to Germany 12 to 11 and then we won 14 to 10 on the second World Cup. I challenge anyone, including the 24 Fifa Executive Members to show one day that I had given or asked for a bribe. And, this is not just connected to the World Cup, in any other endeavour. I was CEO of many companies, I served on many Boards, I was the chair of an R11bn company, go and asked all of them whether I (had) ever asked or was given a bribe."
"I just refused. I just have my name and I will protect it and when the time comes I will deal with the matter in a comprehensive way and then loook at those who really tried to tarnish my name and my reputation. This thing has angered me and when you are are angry the best is to protect yourself and be quiet. So, the time will come when I will be able to deal with this matter, but now I have no problem. I continue my work, I was in Egypt the other day attending a CAF meeting."
"I must focus and not be distracted from the urgent task of rebuilding the Metro and that is what I will do. And, I'm very hapy with what we've achieved over a very, very short space of time."
Meanwhile, one of the responsibilities that Jordaan says he has in rebuilding Nelson Mandela Bay is to deal with corruption.
"You cannot strengthen the financial base of any institution and yet you allow corruption to prevail and to dominate any activity, whether it is in the Metro or any other institution.
I had a budget of R43bn (World Cup) that I managed. Here is budget of R9bn, so I have seen these numbers before, I've managed it."
"So, I'm very clear that we have to deal with corruption. We have suspended 17 officials already and we're going to follow the line. Some of the things have been handed over to the Hawks and they are continuing the investigation, eventually with a prosecution. So, there is no question that if you want to have service delivery you must ensure that the money goes to the right places."
"I've indicated that firstly you have to strengthen and bring financial stability, I think we've achieved that. The other day we had R1.5bn cash in the bank so the financial stability is there. The second thing is corruption."
"You mave have read The Herald of one DA Councillor (implicated in corruption). We are making a significant investigation into the entire use of discretionary funds. We have already received those documents related to the Councillor and you must know that the money that was misappropriated was not a party political allocation of money. It is the Metro's money. So, whatever has happened the Metro has a responsibility and will do so to look at this particular case and all other cases across the board."
"This may not be the only case. What is clear is that if there is corruption in the institution it is not the corruption of an individual party but the corruption of the institution. When people steal money they are not stealing the DA's money or the ANC's money, they're stealing the Metro's money and all of the councillors have the same fiduciary responsibility to deal with corruption. Well, they failed, all of them, so no one must pretend that it is this or that party's corruption. It is corruption in the Metro."
"I think we've done more in the last four months than this Metro has done over the last 10 years. So, I think we've demonstrated out commitment and we are determined to walk the line and bring an efficient and effective Metro. This Metro must be the best in the country."
During his hour-long interview, Jordaan also addressed several questions from listeners.
This is what he had to say about stray animals on the Metro's roads.
"Well this a serious matter,not just the cows on the road but also in residentional areas. This is what we have observed we are having a further meeting on Tuesday with the various the departments including the executive directors and certainly It is a matter we will take up very very strongly.
Regarding his commitment to sport development, Jordaan said the recently announced Super Rugby schedule will bring Australian, New Zealand, Japanese rugby fans to the country.
"Tthat means sport tourism will be strenghtened and that money will be spent inside this metro. What is then important is that the team should be supported to be able compete at that level," Jordaan said.
"I dont think people of the metro will be happy to see the team losing week in and week out. The same apply's to football, to rugby and to cricket. We have had engagements with them and we will continue that engagement ,to say how can we restructure both the management and the commercial side and bring greater efficiency and greater revenue from both the public and private sector."
"Besides being a mayor I have significant experience to build a brand and to build and to strengthen the commercial side of these sports and when they fill the stadium and tourists flock in to see our teams play and they can compete with the Blue Bulls or any of the teams from Australia,New Zealand and I think the leisure industry, the restaurants, the hotels will be the benefiaciries and that will be good for the City," Jordaan said.
Responding to a question on the future of Bayworld, Jordaan said that "it is back on the agenda." "We are discussing that matter but then again like any other matter it is a question of environmentalists raising concerns about any animal in this case dolphins in captivity ,so always as a balance.but certainly its a matter on the table that we will finalise soon," he added.
Jordaan also said that tackling crime is a priority focus area.
He said that on the 7th of October the Metro will be demonstrating publicly what steps are being taken to strengthen the fight against crime, particularly in the depressed areas, the Northern areas and also the township areas.
Jordaan said the Metro had been working closely with the police, strengthening video surveillance in hotspot areas.
" This is the City of my birth, I know no other City I was born here, I grew up here, I struggled here, Now I am the Mayor here."
"Over the last few months we have worked very hard to return the City to a city that works for everybody.Where ever I went from the youth to the old-age homes, people are hopeful and hope is the first thing to bring about change and progress and I am very happy that we have achieved that and we will continue to work hard," Jordaan concluded.
