Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has authorized an advance payment of R5 million to Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana players. The minister expressed concern about the players’ financial situation ahead of the festive season.

However, SAFA president Danny Jordaan clarified that the R5 million was an early payment from the government’s annual R7 million contribution to women’s football. This payment was intended for the upcoming year’s budget.

There have been reports that Bafana Bafana players have not been paid bonuses for the past two camps and McKenzie said he couldn’t watch Bafana Bafana players going to their families without money during the festive season having done the country proud. 

Bafana Bafana claimed the Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal in Ivory Coast this year, which was for the first time in 24 years and also qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with two games to spare.  

Even when they knew they had booked their AFCON spot in Morocco’s 2025 finals without kicking the ball, Bafana Bafana did not put their foot off the accelerator, winning both matches against Uganda (2-0) and South Sudan (3-0) to finish top of the AFCON qualifying group for the first time since 2014 for the 2015 edition.

“I couldn’t sit and watch our players not being paid over festive; we advanced R5 million rand to be used to pay all Bafana & Banyana players including their bonuses. We also demanded a turnaround strategy from SAFA, because our players made us proud.”  

Sportswire put a call to SAFA president Jordaan to find out what is happening with the association and has Bafana Bafana players been paid the bonuses of qualifying for the AFCON finals. 

“I don’t know,” said Jordaan. 

“Ask the CEO (Lydia Monyepao). But I presume they have been paid.” However, Monyepao’s phone rang and was never answered.   

Jordaan’s control with the association is limited of late since he has been involved in court proceeding. Jordaan, along with his co-accused, Safa CFO Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, appeared in the Palm Ridge magistrate’s court on Tuesday. They face allegations of fraud and theft amounting to R1.3m. 

Jordaan and his co-accused failed to have their case struck off the roll and the case was postponed to 7 February 2025. 

Previously, Jordaan had filed an urgent application to interdict his arrest and prosecution, but the National Prosecuting Authority deemed the application flawed, leading to his arrest. The trio was released on R20,000 bail each after their first appearance last month.