Minister Gayton McKenzie doesn’t have confidence in SAFA leadership

McKenzie, who was speaking at the handover of the Nedbank Multipurpose court at the Job Rathabe Secondary School in Orlando, Soweto, yesterday, says the only sporting code he has confidence in is rugby because of the Springboks results. Asked if he’s got confidence in the Jordaan-led SAFA, McKenzie was very clear in his response that Bafana should qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"No, you see, I don't have full confidence. I've got full confidence in rugby at the moment because full confidence can't come with talk, it comes with results. I've got full confidence in the rugby because the results are there for us to see, the results are not there with the soccer. The results are not there with hockey, I'm not a man that gets overpowered with words, I like action," McKenzie said.

Bafana reached the semifinals of the AFCON for the first time in 24 years earlier this year and returned with a bronze medal from Côte D'Ivoire.

They have just started the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and stumbled to a one-all draw at Orlando Stadium last Friday.

Hugo Broos’ team is currently tied on seven points with leaders Rwanda and Benin in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after four matches played in a six-team group. McKenzie, who was at Orlando Stadium last Friday, shares what he told Jordaan about his expectations.

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"I told the man that you are talking about, Doctor Danny Jordaan and I told SAFA, I give you two deliverables. I'm the ultimate accounting authority when it comes to football and sport in this country, I said to them, qualify for the World Cup, qualify for the African Nations Cup. I'm giving them all the support now but I can't be giving people support until kingdom come, that's not performing," the minister explained.

Bafana have not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 in South Korea and Japan, through the qualifiers but entered the 2010 World Cup as hosts.

Jordaan is now on his third term as SAFA President, ending in 2026.