VIDEO - PORT ELIZABETH - DANNY JORDAAN DENIES FIFA BRIBERY AND DEFENDS MTI'S APPOINTMENT

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Danny Jordaan says he has never committed any fraud and took part in no corruption in the build up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

In an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News, Jordaan has dismissed claims that he or South African Football Association (Safa) paid a $10 million bribe to secure the rights to host the tournament

Jordaan is the African National Congress (ANC)'s mayoral candidate in Port Elizabeth, a battleground being contested by the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s candidate Athol Trollip.

He has remained mostly silent about the allegations swirling around the 2010 World Cup bid, but he's now told EWN it was Nelson Mandela who helped South Africa clinch the tournament - not bribery.

He says he's being defamed.

Nelson Mandela Bay looks set to be one of the most fiercely contested metros in the upcoming elections, but Jordaan says he's confident the ANC will retain it.



Jordaan says his political rivals keep rehashing old 2010 Fifa bribery allegations to try and defeat him in the upcoming elections.

He says the DA are desperate to win votes and that's why they are calling on him to account for the alleged bribe.

Meanwhile, Trollip says he is confident that the DA can win the metro come 3 August.

JORDAAN DEFENDS LINDA MTI'S APPOINTMENT 

The Nelson Mandela Bay mayor has defended his appointment of controversial former prisons boss Linda Mti, saying his qualifications make him impossible to overlook.

The executive mayor has broken his silence on his appointment of the former head of security for the 2010 World Cup, amid criticism from the DA, who have labelled Mti a 'convicted criminal'.

Mti was recently appointed as the Nelson Mandela Bay's safety and security head.

He was found guilty of drunk and negligent driving in 2008 and faced graft allegations relating to the awarding of tenders while he was the national correctional services commissioner.

Jordaan says he can't be expected to not hire someone as qualified and experienced as Mti because he has a minor criminal record.

VIA - ewn.co.za