The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba has noted with appreciation the candidature of a woman for the presidency of the South African Football Association (SAFA) in the next SAFA elections that are scheduled to take place on 25 June 2022.

SAFA’s Governance Committee released eligible candidates for SAFA elections on 6 June. The names of the candidates that have been nominated ahead of this year’s SAFA elective congress were announced at a press conference last week. The names are: Dr Danny Jordaan (current SAFA President), Mr Solly Mohlabeng and Ms Ria Ledwaba.

Ms Ria Ledwaba who is one of the current Vice Presidents of SAFA and the founder of Ria Stars Football Club that played in the Premier Soccer League, is among the candidates and is the first female to be head of delegation in the AFCON qualifier match which South Africa won against Nigeria in 2019.

Ms Ncube-Ndaba described Ria as an outstanding and a shining female football administrator who is a remarkable gift to the South African nation. “Ria emerged in the football sector at a time when the South African football needed people of her calibre as she embodies a mixture of visionary, strategic and developmental leadership attributes,” said Ms Ncube-Ndaba.

Ms Ncube-Ndaba said although there are policies in place on gender equality and mainstreaming calling for the full participation of women in decision-making so that women’s needs move from the margins to the centre of development planning and resource allocation, Ria’s involvement and growth in soccer is on merit.

“Her football profile confirms beyond doubt that she is fitting particularly for SAFA’s primary mandate of promoting and facilitating the development of football through infrastructural and training initiatives across the country,” added Ms Ncube-Ndaba.