The Economic Freedom Fighters want Danny Jordaan to resign from the SA Football Association following his new appointment as Nelson Mandela Bay mayor.

“Jordaan must resign from the association since he has chosen active politics and life as an ANC politician,” national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Jordaan must also resign to ensure that he does not render a body, that should be neutral and rally everyone regardless of their political affiliation, partisan.”

The African National Congress announced on Monday that it was replacing Nelson Mandela Bay mayor 83-year-old Benson Fihla with Jordaan.

Fihla still has to tender his resignation.

The EFF said it was obvious that Jordaan was elected to be the “Messiah” for the collapsing ANC in the region.

Jordaan was one of three changes made in the top municipal leadership

Deputy Mayor Chippa Ngcolomba makes way for former deputy mayor Bicks Ndoni, while Chief Whip Joy Searle, makes way for Litha Suka. Current Speaker Maria Hermans, keeps her position.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe explained that the appointments still needed to follow due diligence, as the outgoing councillors would have to vacate their positions and the new councillors would need to be sworn in.

Thereafter, they would have to be put forward to the council by the ANC as their candidates for the various vacant positions.

There is a slight chance that the appointments might not go through, should the ANC not secure enough votes in council on the day to vote in their new candidates.

Jordaan’s appointment will make him the fourth mayor in six years in a municipality whose ANC-led leadership has been mired by political instability and factional infighting.

The Democratic Alliance has called Jordaan’s appointment a “pre-election gimmick” by the ANC.

1. News24