Danny Jordaan was born in Port Elizabeth to parents Maxine and Alexandre Jordaan who had a family home in Bethelsdorp. He became involved in anti-apartheid activities by joining the South African Students’ Organisation (SASO) in the early 1970s, an organisation founded by Steve Biko in order to defend the rights of black students. Later, Jordaan also became a member of the United Democratic Front and the African National Congress (ANC).
With a home in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, Jordaan is most widely known for his contribution to football via his successful heading of South Africa’s bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and his subsequent appointment as SAFA President to succeed Kirsten Nematandani on 28 September 2013.
His academic career includes a Bachelor of Arts and D. Phil from the University of the Western Cape; a Honorary Doctor of Administration and a Honours Degree from the University of South Africa as wells as a D. Phil from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Danny Jordaan has been showered with awards starting with a Special Presidential Award from Nelson Mandela in 1994 and fourteen other additional significant awards since then: Order of Ikhamanga (Gold) conferred by President Jacob Zuma in 2011, Newsmaker of the Year – National Press Club in 2010, the FW de Klerk Goodwill Award in 2011 – dedicated to honouring to the people of South Africa and those who worked closely with him; Mens Health Businessman of the Year; Freedom of the City of Maracaibo; SABC Personality of the Year; Kouga Municipality Mayoral Award; Nelson Mandela Bay Citizen of the Year Award; City of Los Angeles Mayoral Achievement Award; Johannesburg Press Club Newsmaker Of the Year; 2000 Marketing Man of the Year; 2001 State Presidential Sport Achievement Award conferred by President Thabo Mbeki; In 2004 Jordaan was voted 44th in the Top 100 Great South Africans and in 2000 won the Association of Marketers Marketing Person of the Year.
Following his studies, Jordaan became a teacher in 1974. His positions included: Teacher at Arcadia Senior Secondary Shool, Port Elizabeth during 1979; Teacher at Academia, Education and Training from 1979 to 1987 and Senior Lecturer at Dower College, Port Elizabeth from 1981 to 1994.
From 1970 to 1983 he was a provincial cricket and football player. In the latter sport, he achieved professional status for a brief period. His political and sport interests soon combined and he became an activist in various organizations fighting to break down racial barriers in sport.
Jordaan’s positions serving football include: Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee from 2004 to 2010; CEO for the World Cup Soccer Bid 2010 from 2001 to 2004; CEO of SAFA (South African Football Association) from 2000 to 2001; CEO of the World Cup Soccer Bid 2006 from 1998 to 2000; CEO of the South African Football Association from 1997 to 2000; Vice-President of SAFA from 1991 to 1997, Acting President of SAFA from 1990 to 1991 and present Presdient of SAFA from 2013.
In 1993 he was appointed as a director of the Cape Town Olympic Bid Company.
His political career also progressed; in 1990 he was elected as the chairperson of the ANC branch in Port Elizabeth North. After the first fully inclusive South African elections in 1994, he became a member of parliament for the ANC under the newly elected Nelson Mandela, a position he held until 1997.
Jordaan’s political career included: Member of Parliament in the National Assembly for the African National Congress from 1994 to 1997; Chair of the European Union Development Assistance Programme from 1994 to 1997; Member of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1997 and Member of the Portfolio Committee On Trade and Industry from 1994 to 1997.
In 1997, he was elected as the Chief Executive Officer of SAFA. He subsequently headed South Africa’s unsuccessful 2006 FIFA World Cup bid, narrowly losing out to Germany but gaining great respect internationally for his work. As a consequence, he also led South Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup bid, this time successfully.
Jordaan has served on the marketing and television board of FIFA since 1998.
In the lead up to the appointment of Danny Jordaan as Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay seasoned politicians, labour and business people, church leaders and sports activists were roped in to serve on President Jacob Zuma’s 31-member team to fix the ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The ANC gave this team six months to recruit members from various sectors, build its branches and get it back on track before an unpredictable municipal election next year.
Led by veteran ANC MP and former defence minister Charles Nqakula, the regional task team included former MECs Thobile Mhlahlo and Dennis Neer, former deputy mayor Bicks Ndoni, and former Eastern Cape health boss and Uitenhage businessman Dr Siva Pillay.
Bhisho legislature secretary Phumelele Ndamase was the team’s deputy convener while church leader and Safa boss Danny Jordaan’s wife, Roxane, appeared at number five on the list.
On Monday 18 May 2015 two of the family names on the team appeared as the top dogs – Danny Jordaan as Executive Mayor and Bicks Ndoni as Deputy Mayor who, if Jordaan keeps his job as SAFA President, may be seen as the real power behind the throne. Bicks Ndoni is also a former Portfolio Chairperson for Safety and Security.
Alan Straton
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