Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe returns as SAFA COO

SABC Sport has learnt that Motlanthe is returning as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) and will start his new job on Monday.

Motlanthe’s return doesn’t come as a surprise, as he has been doing consultancy work for SAFA in recent months.

The most recent was the ABC Motsepe League national playoffs, where he chaired the disciplinary committee, which had a lot of drama as some teams were questioning the eligibility of some opposition players.

It’s believed that an internal communication confirming Motlanthe’s return and other administrative changes in the organisation was sent to all the staff this week.

Motlanthe resigned from SAFA only in April 2023.

In a leaked letter that he later denied to have authored, it was alleged that he had been treated like a glorified clerk.

This was apparently aimed at some of the National Executive Committee members, who were said to be interfering with administrative duties.

Motlanthe, who also holds a FIFA Diploma in Football Law and is a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Instructor for Club Licensing, has a wealth of experience in football administration.

He served as SAFA CEO for four years before his departure last year.

SABC Sport understands that Motlanthe, who is also a former SAFA Senior Manager for legal and membership affairs, has been brought back to the organization to stabilize certain areas that have been lacking, including the legal and organizational side.

After the playoffs, when asked about Motlanthe’s role, SAFA President Danny Jordaan simply said he was a legal advisor and didn’t rule out his permanent return.

"He's a legal advisor, and he helped with the [ABC Motsepe League National Play-offs], and we are happy to have him – he's made a great contribution to SAFA, and he will continue to contribute, we are very happy with him.

"Well, we will talk to him about that in the future," Jordaan told members of the media in June.

Motlanthe was recently appointed as the CEO of the newly promoted Motsepe Foundation Championship side Kruger United from Mpumalanga, and it’s expected that he will be replaced by former SAFA Mpumalanga provincial secretary Bevan Mahlangu, who was also appointed as the club administrator immediately after the playoffs.

Motlanthe was not available for comment at the time of publishing this story.

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Meanwhile, SABC Sport has also been reliably informed that SAFA Head of Women’s Football Romaney Pinnock has resigned from her job.

Pinnock has been in the news recently following a fallout with SAFA Technical Director Walter Steenbok, which has resulted in Steenbok being called to a Disciplinary Committee hearing that has yet to sit. 

Pinnock’s departure follows the resignation of a top SAFA official, Isaac Klaas, who left his position as the manager for Membership Affairs and Governance.

Klaas has since taken over as the general manager at another newly promoted National First Division side, Highbury FC, in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.