South Africa's national football team is mired in governance failures that threaten its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The South African Football Association (SAFA) faced intense parliamentary scrutiny this week over a missing R30 million for VAR and stalled contract talks with prospective coach Pitso Mosimane.
Bafana Bafana's new era under a potential high-profile manager is being undermined by administrative inertia.
A parliamentary committee hearing on Tuesday revealed deep dysfunction within the football body. The Sport, Arts and Culture Portfolio Committee, with Minister Gayton McKenzie present, demanded answers on two major issues. First was the failed implementation of Video Assistant Referee technology, for which a R30-million departmental allocation has vanished without a working system. Second were the protracted negotiations to appoint Pitso Mosimane as national team coach.
SAFA president Danny Jordaan was absent from the session. Chief executive Lydia Monyepao represented the association but struggled to provide clear timelines or feasibility studies for the VAR rollout. Democratic Alliance MP Leah Potgieter questioned why public funds were disbursed without a concrete, FIFA-compliant plan in place.
Minister Gayton McKenzie has demanded the full return of the R30 million, stating the deadline for implementation has passed and VAR is not operational for the new PSL season. "I have been dragged in the media and it seems like SAFA does not care," McKenzie said. "We wrote a letter to SAFA, which was ignored... How do you ignore me after receiving my money?"
Regarding the coaching saga, SAFA's National Executive Committee approved Mosimane's appointment on August 8. However, official confirmation is stalled over remuneration, with reports indicating SAFA offered the three-time CAF Champions League winner significantly lower terms than his predecessor, Hugo Broos. McKenzie argued negotiations should start at parity with the former Belgian coach's salary. "Pitso Mosimane is not a coach of the ABC Motsepe League. Let us be honest about that issue," he added.
The financial and contract disputes compound a turbulent period for team logistics. SAFA acknowledged recurring administrative breakdowns, including travel visa delays and operational oversights previously managed by former team manager Vincent Tseka. An error by Tseka regarding Teboho Mokoena's suspension status once endangered South Africa's World Cup qualification campaign.
The parliamentary hearing was marked by evasive answers. Monyepao was ejected from the sitting by committee chairperson Joseph McGluwa after refusing to disclose Broos's contract details, citing confidentiality. SAFA requested a 21-day grace period to respond to the committee's questions.
These governance crises hit as South Africa enters a critical phase. The team's recent form has been inconsistent, with a record of one win, two draws, and two losses in its last five matches. Its most recent result was a 0-1 defeat to Canada on June 28. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming fixtures on our standings and fixtures pages.
The negotiations have sparked a broader debate about racial wage disparities and financial accountability within SAFA. With AFCON qualifiers imminent, the governing body's administrative failures are directly stalling the national team's progress.
