As the scrutiny grows around which two ”high-ranking South African football and government officials” were responsible for offering cash for votes, there a few names that come to mind. Just who was in charge of handing over $10 million to bring the Cup to Africa?

So let’s put on our best Sherlock Holmes hats (don’t forget the pipe) and do some digging. What does the indictment served by the US government say about those involved? Here’s Sport24:

At various times relevant to the Indictment, co-conspirator #15 was a high-ranking official of the 2006 South Africa World Cup bid committee and the 2010 South Africa World Cup bid committee and local organising committee.

At various times relevant to the Indictment, co-conspirator #16 was a high-ranking official of the 2006 South Africa World Cup bid committee and the 2010 South Africa World Cup bid committee and local organising committee.

Right, so who served on both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup bid committees?

As best can be determined, only three officials served on both the 2006 World Cup bid committee and the 2010 Soccer World Cup bid committee and local organising committee.

They were, Danny Jordaan, Tokyo Sexwale and Irvin Khoza.

Now Danny Jordaan has been under intense media scrutiny ever since the scandal broke, his name being most associated with the World Cup bid committee and the backslapping that followed our successful 2010 bid. During his swearing in as mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay he was probed on the matter:

You see here at the back, when you see the appropriate banner, you can ask the question…

Listen, I’m saying this is not the forum, the minister of sport will be issuing a press statement, so once the statement has been issued you will have a better understanding of what you are talking about.

Looks like some serious side-stepping to me. Tokyo Sexwale has so far evaded contact from various news outlets, whilst Irvin Khoza is said to be in Switzerland and attempts to reach him were also unsuccessful.

Where does this leave us then? No closer to the truth, but the net seems to be tightening and there may be some nasty surprises in store for some of South Africa’s top brass in the not-too-distant future.

Ayoba.

[source:sport24]