Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has hit out at SAFA over what he calls incompetence while revealing that he is investigating the Danny Jordaan-led association.
McKenzie is not impressed that national team players and coaches have gone for months without getting paid, something that forced the Department of Sports to come to the aid of SAFA last week.
The Department of Sports gave SAFA R5 million from their 2025 grant to pay the bonuses and salaries that had been pending for months but McKenzie is keen to get to the root of the problem.
“There are two issues here people don’t see. The fact that people deserve to be paid for work done. That is not happening,” said McKenzie.
“Secondly, what does it say about our country if we can’t pay? Countries that did not qualify for Africa Nations Cup paid their players. We have qualified [but] our coaches have not been paid, our players, Banyana Banyana, Bafana Bafana have not been paid.
Cricket with R800m but SAFA cany pay R4.9m?
“We have a great coach in Hugo Broos, you know if you are not getting paid and someone else offers you a job, you will leave. Now we might lose Helman Mkhalele and these people because of the incompetence of SAFA.”
The Sports Minister feels he now has a leeway into SAFA’s affairs thanks to the money he has advanced them.
“They gave me a way into SAFA once they asked for money. Once you take my money, as the Minister, once I sign government money for you, the public's money, we have a right to say something,” he added.
“So, if FIFA asks me, I will be like; ‘we are talking of the money we gave them.’ What happened to that money so that we can investigate there? We are going to have a forensic investigation and I don’t think FIFA will be angry.
“We need a forensic investigation not done by SAFA but us, what is really transpiring. Why is it that rugby players don’t struggle for their money? Cricket have R800 million in the bank, how come SAFA can’t pay 4.9 million. It is not right. If I could have fired them, I would have but I don't have that power.”
McKenzie still waiting for answers
While he is looking to understand the issues at SAFA, McKenzie is also cognizant of the delicate balance between investigating them while ensuring there is no government interference that would attract trouble from FIFA.
“SAFA doesn't understand what I have done now. I didn’t just give them money. I gave them money that was earmarked for them already. This R5 million to pay the salaries is money they would have gotten anyway in April but I said to them,” said McKenzie.
“I need a report back after the 18th of December when you have your board meeting which I now hear they have postponed. I went back and said I still need the report back. What is the state of your finances, why is it that you are in this position and how are you going to get out of this position?
“I will collect this information once I have it and then deal accordingly but my hands are tied. I need to be careful. People say; ‘McKenzie, Danny must go.’ I can’t remove Danny because it is not in my hands.
“That is interference then we will get banned here and the same people will say we are banned because of this Minister. I must have a cool head but I am investigating them now.”
