The South African Football Association’s (SAFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) has appointed Molefi Ntseki as the new SAFA Technical Director on a five-year contract.

This announcement comes as no surprise, as this publication previously reported that Ntseki was the frontrunner for the vacant position.

SAFA confirmed that Ntseki, who was dismissed as Bafana Bafana coach in March 2021 after failing to qualify Bafana Bafana for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and was replaced by Hugo Broos, has already begun his duties with the association.

The position became vacant following the departure of Walter Steenbok, who resigned amid reports from Sportswire sources describing him as “reckless” and “prone to making hasty decisions without proper consideration.”

In addition, SAFA confirmed that Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has been retained to continue leading the senior women’s national team on a new five-year deal.

“The South African Football Association’s (SAFA) National Executive Committee (NEC) met in Mbombela on Tuesday, 14 October, where members discussed several important matters,” SAFA said in a statement.

“The SAFA Technical Committee recommended to the NEC that Molefi Ntseki be appointed as the Association’s Technical Director and Desiree Ellis as the coach of the South African senior women’s national team, Banyana Banyana.

“The Technical Committee recommended that both be appointed on four-year contracts, and the NEC endorsed these recommendations.

“Ntseki has already held several engagements with FIFA, and the world football governing body has agreed to support his programmes.”

The SAFA NEC—chaired by President Danny Jordaan and serving as the association’s highest decision-making body—made these resolutions during its meeting in Mpumalanga. The gathering coincided with Bafana Bafana’s 3-0 victory over Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium, a result that sealed South Africa’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The SAFA statement added: “FIFA has commended the progress of South African national teams, with both the U-17 and U-20 sides participating in FIFA World Cup tournaments this year.

“The NEC congratulated the South Africa U-20 men’s national team, Amajita, for making history by becoming the first South African national team to win two matches at a FIFA World Cup.

“Coach Raymond Mdaka’s team captured the public’s imagination as they flew the South African flag high at the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile recently.

“It was also the first time since 2009 in Egypt, under coach Serame Letsoaka, that Amajita progressed to the Round of 16, where they were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Ghana after extra time.”

After concluding the meeting, the NEC members proceeded to Mbombela Stadium to support Bafana Bafana, witnessing Hugo Broos’ side secure qualification for next year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June 2025.