CAPE TOWN – Following reports that the South African Football Association (SAFA) has become cash-strapped to pay player’s salaries ahead of the festive season, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has decided to advance the federation with R5 million.
Minister Gayton McKenzie wrote to the organisation to offer the advance, with the understanding that it will be subtracted from the grant paid in the 2025 financial year.
This comes with the condition that SAFA’s leadership would need to provide reasons for why their financial affairs are so troubled, together with a viable turnaround plan to avoid such a situation in future.
SAFA agreed to the conditions and thanked the Minister for the intervention.
“We cannot allow players to go into this festive season without payment, especially since they have done the country proud,” said McKenzie.
“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.”
In their correspondence to the Minister, SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao explained that sponsorship revenues have been insufficient, while they have also been dealing with delayed payments from various partners.
SAFA has been working on a financial turnaround strategy to increase revenues and cut costs, which will be presented to the Minister following the federation’s upcoming National Executive Committee meeting.
