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2 The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) has alleged that the players of country’s senior men’s and women’s national teams Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana have not been paid for several months.
According to iDiski Times, this was revealed in a statement released by SAFPU.
Bafana finished their recent international break by securing back-to-back qualifications for the Africa Cup of Nations, while Banyana are set to defend their WAFCON title next year.
However, despite the success on the pitch, there have been off-pitch issues at the South African Football Association (SAFA), with president Danny Jordaan recently appearing in court over fraud allegations.
The financial crisis at SAFA seems to be deeper than many thought, with SAFPU alleging that players and technical team members from both senior national teams “not being paid in months.”
“The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana for their remarkable achievement in qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON),” it was said in the statement.
“This is a proud moment for our nation, and we commend the players, coaching staff, and technical teams for their dedication, skill, and patriotism. Their hard work has earned South Africa this prestigious accomplishment, and we celebrate their success.
“However, while we acknowledge and celebrate this achievement, it is with great disappointment that we must address a critical issue that continues to affect our players. Despite their dedication to representing South Africa, both the Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana teams, as well as their technical staff, have not been paid for several months.
“These overdue payments, some dating back to multiple camps, are a violation of the rights of our players and staff. The failure to address this issue is not just a breach of contractual obligations, but a form of exploitation that undermines the players’ hard work and sacrifices.”
SAFPU stated that it is unacceptable that the players, who give their all for the country, have been left without the financial compensation they are due.
The union said to date, no clear explanation has been provided to the players regarding these outstanding payments, nor any indication of when the issue will be resolved, saying the lack of transparency and accountability is deeply troubling.
“The financial strain caused by non-payment is far-reaching. Some players have been phased out of the system, despite still being owed money. This exploitation also has long-term consequences, as many players face financial hardship after their careers.
“It is concerning that, in a country where athletes face a high tax burden, there has been no move to create a special tax dispensation or regulated pension scheme for sportspeople. Such measures would allow our players to not only succeed during their careers but also secure their financial futures after football.”
SAFPU added that it has already reached out to SAFA, seeking clarity on the issues and has formally requested a meeting to discuss the matters and find a collective solution that ensures the well-being of the players and the long-term success of South African football.
Bafana Bafana are in the same group with the Super Eagles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
When both teams met on matchday 3 of the qualifiers in June in Uyo, the Eagles came from a goal down to draw 1-1.
After four games played, Bafana are second on seven points while the Eagles are fifth on three points.
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