Minister Gayton Mckenzie

In a startling accusation, the straight talking Minister of Sport in the Government of National Unity (GNU), Gayton Mckenzie, said that the failure or delay in introducing the much-needed Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football was the result of shenanigans in the management of the South African  Football Association (SAFA). This was heard during a broadcast interview where McKenzie was talking to Sports journalist Robert Marawa.

The Marawa interview was a follow up to Minister McKenzie’s public outrage that he could not tolerate SAFA’s failure to introduce the vital technology used world-wide to assist referees to take critical decisions in soccer matches.  ‘I gave SAFA R13 million to implement VAR and that has not been done and I need my money back’, McKenzie bellowed. He also stated that SAFA requested for 21 days to complete the work to implement VAR. It is unclear when the 21-day deadline would expire. However, SAFA has reportedly assured the nation  that the money is safely kept in a separate account and has not been used for other purposes.

What is troubling in the Marawa show interview is that McKenzie is heard saying ‘Some people want to block this thing as they benefit from corrupt referees that are on the books of some people. There are tsotsis everywhere’.  This allegation therefore introduces the element of match-fixing, an old South African football problem in which clubs pay referees to win games. Is it possible that the introduction of this advanced technological innovation is held to ransom by football thugs? And, to what extent is SAFA involved in these shenanigans if true?

 

 

Meanwhile, SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao was given the boot by Parliament’s portfolio committee on sport, Arts and Culture when she failed to  satisfactorily answer questions from MPs about the discrepancy in salaries paid to former Belgian coach Hugo Broos and newly appointed coach Pitso Mosimane. Apparently, Monyepao consistently refused to disclose the salary of Broos. Finally, Monyepao clarified at the same parliamentary hearing that the contract of the controversial Bafana Bafana Team Manager, Vincent Tseka, had naturally expired on 31 July 2026. Tseka rose to national notoriety when he nearly cost Bafana Bafana a place in the World Cup qualifiers by failing to inform the coach about the yellow card received by Tebogo Mokoena in the game against Lesotho after which South Africa was docked three points. As though that wasn’t enough, Tseka once again hit the headlines when Bafana Bafana Bafana’s departure to Mexico for the 2026 FIFA world cup was delayed because of his failure to organize visas in time for some players. Hamba kahle Vincent!

Sello Lediga is a writer and historian. His latest book, Ndizani Bafana Bafana – The Comeback Story of a Nation is available at sellolediga.co.za