Government steps in with R5m advance to resolve Safa’s player payment crisis

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has announced that it has provided the South African Football Association (Safa) with an advance in order for the latter to settle its outstanding debt in player appearance fees. 

In November, Sunday World revealed that both Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana had not received match bonuses since September, with the outstanding remuneration in the region of R6-million.

The association, whose president Danny Jordaan was arrested on fraud and theft charges last month, cited cash flow struggles for the outstanding payments. 

Now Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie’s department has come to Safa’s rescue, offering it a R5-million advance on the annual grant the government provides it. The amount is 70% of the money Safa receives from the government.

McKenzie wrote to the organisation to offer the advance, with the understanding that it would be subtracted from the grant paid in the 2025 financial year. 

This comes with the condition that Safa’s leadership provides reasons for why their financial affairs are so troubled, together with a viable turnaround plan to avoid such a situation in future. South Africa’s soccer custodian has agreed to the conditions.

“We cannot allow players to go into this festive season without payment, especially since they have done the country proud,” McKenzie said. “The men’s team recently qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, and we need them to focus on preparing for this challenge, as well as making sure we get to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. 

“Banyana Banyana have also led the way, winning the African Women’s Championship in 2022 and going deep at the Fifa World Cup last year,” said the minister.

McKenzie also said that in her correspondence with him, Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao provided an explanation of sponsorship revenues being insufficient, while they had also been dealing with delayed payments from various partners. 

Financial turnaround strategy

Safa also said it had been working on a financial turnaround strategy to increase revenues and cut costs, which would be presented to the minister following the federation’s upcoming National Executive Committee meeting.

“Despite the reduction in our financial resources that have dwindled recently due to the tough economic climate in the country and other reasons beyond our control, the association has not stopped investing significantly in the preparation,” said Monyepao.

“The participation of competitive South African national teams on the international stage has continued to make the country proud.”

Safa’s struggles are probably not independent of the legal struggles of Safa boss Jordaan. The 73-year-old has been in and out of court over the past month. 

Jordaan is accused of using Safa’s money for his personal needs, including hiring public relations company Grit Communications to spruce up his public image in 2017. Safa’s chief of finance, Gronie Hluyo, stands charged with helping the president squander the mother body’s finances.

As long as such allegations are plaguing Safa, its financial situation is unlikely to improve. DM