SAFA demands R1 million from blundering Bafana official

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has issued an ultimatum to former Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka, demanding he either accounts for or repay nearly R1 million in unvouched camp expenditures by the end of August or face serious repercussions.

Tseka, whose contract as team manager began in October 2024 until July 2026, has been given a strict deadline to provide the missing invoices to SAFA’s finance department.

During his tenure, Tseka was provided with cash floats to cover operational costs during national team camps, with the requirement that he submit itemised receipts for reconciliation.

However, a significant amount remains unaccounted for, and Tseka is now scrambling to find the missing paperwork at SAFA headquarters before the month-end deadline.

SAFA pins blame on Tseka

Although Tseka’s contract was terminated on July 31, SAFA granted him a short grace period to locate the necessary documentation.

“Mr Tseka has been disputing the amounts that have not been reconciled. As a team manager, we give them money to use while they are with the team,” SAFA Chief Financial Officer Gronie Hluyo explained to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture during a marathon hearing on Tuesday night as per Sportswire.

“According to our records, some of those funds have not been reconciled, and he is disputing that. But he is still working—even though his contract was terminated on the 31st of July—because he asked to be allowed a few weeks to review his reports and locate invoices.”

The SAFA leadership faced an intense 14-hour grilling from Parliament, lasting from 9:00 AM until 11:00 PM, with a focus on the association’s financial reporting and World Cup expenditures.

Former team manager’s deadline

Tensions escalated when SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao cited confidentiality agreements and refused to disclose the salary of former Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos. The committee, dissatisfied with her response, removed Monyepao from the virtual meeting.

When pressed on how SAFA intended to recover the missing funds, Hluyo reiterated the August deadline.

“Honourable members, Mr Tseka has asked for a few weeks. What I can tell the members is that once that period is completed at the end of August, we will pursue whatever legal and financial means are available to us to recoup that money,” Hluyo affirmed.

Committee members accused SAFA officials of being “economical with the truth” and shielding each other from accountability. Following recommendations from Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, the committee proposed that SAFA be the first national federation to undergo a full forensic investigation into its finances.

Blunders of ex-Bafana team manager

In the meantime, Monyepao confirmed that the Bafana Bafana team manager position has been officially advertised, as SAFA seeks a quick appointment ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.

Tseka’s reign as team manager witnessed a number of blunders, the main one being his failure to check Teboho Mokoena’s yellow cards during the World Cup qualifiers which saw Bafana Bafana docked points and nearly proved costly in their qualification journey.

He survived the controversy despite calls for his sacking or resignation while he was also blamed when the national team failed to travel to Mexico on the scheduled date for the World Cup due to late processing of visas for players and officials.