H-Metro Reporter
A VICIOUS social media smear campaign to target SAFA Chief Finance Officer, Gronie Hluyo, on the basis that he is a Zimbabwean, has backfired terribly with scores of South Africans even fighting in his corner.
The campaign was started by a Facebook page called ‘Local Football Uncensored,’ which claims it is a whistleblower in South African football, ‘speaker of the truth, non-conformist and shaker of trees.’
A post on the page read:
“Just remember this: The finances of SAFA are handled by a Zimbabwean Mr Gronie Hluyo.
“Which other country will you find within their football federation (where) their finances are held by someone from another country?
“But there is more to it than that. Also remember Dominic Chimhavi? Another Zimbabwean who was the spokesperson of SAFA.
“A person from another country being a mouthpiece of another country’s football federation.”
Hluyo, 55, is a Zimbabwean accountant who was educated at Victoria High School from 1984-1989 and the University of South Africa. He was a member of the board of directors of the Southern African Institute for Business Accountants for three years between June 2016 and June 2019.
Somehow, a sizable number of South Africans refused to be lured into the storm of hate with some even questioning why the same people, who wanted to judge Hluyo on his nationality, did not do the same when Beast Mtawarira was helping the Springboks win the Rugby World Cup. Some also questioned why the people who were behind the post were comfortable with a Belgian, Hugo Broos, leading Bafana Bafana while they had issues with a Zimbabwean taking charge of SAFA’s finances.
Here are some of the comments:
Bafana Bafana coach is from overseas, no problem. Bafana Bafana Accountant is from Zimbabwe, it becomes a problem. Let’s do away with self hate and negativity. — Thami Metsing
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Stop the hate, Zimbabweans are our brothers. — Zwelethu Zwe
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My question is do you have the qualifications and requirements they need to be in that position. SABC CFO is from Zimbabwe and I don’t see any problem with that , as South Africa we still busy with enjoying life going out enjoying ourselves while other people are busy with education. Let’s not blame others for our failure guys. — Given Madimatje Johannes
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If he is qualified, I don’t see anything wrong with that, after all they are in the country legally and doing great jobs for our country. Many CEOs in this country’s big private companies are whites from Europe and there’s nothing wrong with that. I only have a problem with those who come to commit crimes and tarnish the image of other foreigners. — Desmonds Mlambo
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MTN, Old Mutual, SABC they have executives from other countries Zimbabwe to be specific, Nedbank Zimbabwe and many mines in Zimbabwe are run by professional South Africans, so no problem there. — Maxwell Moyo
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We love complaining so much against our own Africans. If it was a white European we wouldn’t be crying like this. — Khalanga EH
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Makhaya Ntini worked in Zim cricket and they never had a problem with him. — Mbuso Celani Moyo
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It’s not about nationality, it’s about business and the best qualified get employed. There are many Zimbabweans who hold positions of authority even in UK, USA and many other countries in the world. — Tarirai Guvuriro
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But we didn’t say anything when Zimbabwean Mtawarira played for Springboks, he won caps for Springboks and put South Africa on the map. — Lakhe Sipunzi
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If he is qualified and a professional, why not? — Franklyn M Malambo
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Go to school my Bro… You will work anywhere in the world…. You are like a man who only has got Grade 7 qualifications who is accusing a Nigerian Dr with PHD of taking his job. Without education you will always whine about everything, especially where you do not fit in, Julia Stuart was on SuperSport as an analyst. Now she is still doing the same thing in the EPL. — Reckson B Ndlovu
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Vacancies are applied, you put your CV and go to interview if you pass they give you the job simple as ABC. — Cristopher K Dzimbanhete Mutsvari
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At that level, nationality counts very little. The focus should be if he’s doing a good job or not. — Ndala Ngola Fernanda
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First CEO of Premier Soccer League of South Africa was from Europe. — Dumisani Mbongwa
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Is Hugo Broos South African? You exhibited a great deal of both arrogance and ignorance which is the primary reason why people like Hluyo continue to be accountants at SAFA. — Tawanda Gama
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What is wrong with having a qualified individual handling SAFA’s finances? So the problem is not his capabilities but his background? Remember the PSL had the British Bulldog (Trevor Phillips) in the 90s and early 2000s as CEO. Was he South African? — Mntambo Nakwa