SAFPU welcomes Minister McKenzie’s intervention in Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana payments row

Yesterday, McKenzie’s department advanced R5 million to SAFA to pay players and staff outstanding match fees for the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the COSAFA tournament (Banyana Banyana).

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Players receive bonuses only for wins and draws.

SAFPU first raised the issue of non-payments after receiving complaints from the players, according to Munyai.

''Obviously, our ear on the ground is always there because the very same members who are Bafana Bafana players and the very same staff, who are Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana technical staff, reached out to us. They told us that they have never been paid bonuses as far as September till now, yes there's monies which has been advanced to them. But we believe that the only way to know that the monies is being distributed to the beneficiaries is through them reaching out to us. Obviously this will reach the ministry and the relevant people at SAFA that they need to distribute this money to everyone who has worked for the team,'' said Munyai.

It’s not the first time that SAFPU have stepped in to resolve the non-payment of players’ bonuses, as they had before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Munyai says they have to stand up for the players' rights.

The issue of non-payment of match fees has previously been concentrated only on the players, but Munyai says they had to stand up for the rights of the staff members, too.

''The ministry came through and intervened  and we are happy as a union. But we believed that these problems should be resolved, so we made a call that the money needs to be distributed before Christmas. I can tell you that it is not only the players that have not been paid, team doctors and performance analysts should also be catered for,'' added Munyai.

The money from the government comes at a time when the President of SAFA Danny Jordaan, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gronie Hluyo are facing fraud and theft charges at the Palm Ridge Commercial Crimes Court.

Munyai hopes this money will be handled carefully and reach its intended recipients.

''It is alleged that up until they charged fully, and it is alleged that there's some corruption at the federation. If it was our call, we would not have the same people charged with corruption distributing the money. Because this money should reach the targeted people,'' he expressed.