09 November 2020 – This notice was sent on 12 September 2020.
The CAF Executive Committee, where the SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan serve as Vice President, decided to convene a CAF ordinary and elective general assembly 2021 on 12 March 2021 in Morocco. This will mark the end of the four-year term for the President, Members of the CAF Executive and members of the FIFA Council.
The closing date for submission of the nominations is 12 November 2020 in Cairo, Egypt (At least four months before the elections).
Candidature of the Presidency (Article 18 of CAGF Statutes). The candidate must be nominated by at least one CAF affiliated National Association. SAFA submitted the candidature of Dr Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe for the position of President of CAF. The CAF President, upon being elected, automatically becomes a Vice President of FIFA. At least three other CAF affiliated National Associations must support the nomination of SAFA.
CAF affiliated National Associations can only nominate or support only one candidate. SAFGA is therefore happy to announce that the following countries endorsed the candidate:
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Botswana
- Zimbabwe
Why did SAFA nominate Dr Patrice Motsepe for CAF President?
The SAFA National Executive Committee approved a round-robin resolution by an overwhelming majority to nominate Dr Patrice Motsepe for the position of President of CAF. His football and business success is well recorded in our continent and in the World.
In 2017 Forbes Magazine commemorated its 100th Anniversary and honoured Dr Motsepe as one of the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” in the world alongside prominent global business leaders like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, Jack Ma and others. He is the only person living on the African continent to be recognized and honoured as one of the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” in the world.
In January 2013 Dr Motsepe and his wife, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe joined the Giving Pledge which was started by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. Dr Motsepe committed to giving half of the wealth held by the Motsepe family to the poor and for philanthropic purposes during his lifetime and that of his wife and beyond. In April 2019, Forbes Magazine stated that in excess of US$500 million had been donated by the Motsepe family to the poor and for philanthropic purposes.
Football is played amidst the global challenges of:
- Covid-19
- Economic stresses and football under Covid regulations.
We believe that to overcome these challenges, we have to recognise that the global and continental economic challenges have placed pressure on financial resources.
- That the organisations of football under Covid conditions require additional resources for medical and logistical requirements.
- That Africa competitions must be packaged to attract greater market interest.
We need to build a partnership between CAF and business leaders on the continent. Building relationships and partnerships is a fundamental first to realise greater financial support for football
His participation in the giving pledge with global billionaires, highlights his commitment to contribute to the improvement and upliftment of the living conditions of the poor, unemployed and marginalised in Africa and globally. Dr Motsepe’s partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation as part of Nelson Mandela’s 100-year celebration in 2018 resulted in him bringing Barcelona Football Club to play against Mamelodi Sundowns FC in front of 90 000 football spectators and the match being watched in many countries in Africa and globally.
We are convinced that his business acumen, his strict observance of governance, his legal training, his global business network and his commitment and love for African and world football makes him a revolutionary choice for the leadership of African Football.
The post-Covid continental and global football environment require football and commercial partners to re-examine its competition offering. African Football must achieve higher revenue levels for the benefit of its members. It must improve its global profile and standing in the confederation of FIFA. We believe he is the candidate that can achieve this for the benefit of African Football.
Focus Areas: The growth of Women’s football technology and innovation improve Africa’s competitiveness closing the financial disparity. Strengthening – Zonal federations as football delivery platforms, building bridges and partnering between football, business and strengthening of governance and ethics
Our nomination of Dr Patrice Motsepe moves him from the boardroom to the dressing room – recognising that in the Covid environment the dressing room cannot thrive without the boardroom.
