SUN CITY, North West — Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has escalated his conflict with the South African Football Association (SAFA), issuing a strict 21-day deadline for the governing body to refund R13 million. The funds were originally allocated by the government to accelerate Video Assistant Referee (VAR) implementation in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), a project McKenzie claims is being deliberately sabotaged from within.
Delivering the stark warning at the 19th annual SA Sports Awards, the Minister expressed profound disappointment over the complete stagnation of the VAR project. He emphasized that his department had meticulously followed due process, securing explicit approval from the National Treasury and funding official fact-finding missions to evaluate the best technological solutions for local football. Despite these exhaustive efforts, the technology remains absent from the pitch.
Following McKenzie’s initial demand for accountability, SAFA’s top brass reportedly requested a 21-day grace period to rectify the situation. McKenzie warned that this window is final. Should the deadline pass without the return of the state funds or concrete progress, he vowed to take “drastic measures.” This includes formally petitioning FIFA to intervene and facilitate the rollout of VAR in South African football through alternative, direct channels.
The Minister did not hold back in his assessment of SAFA’s internal dynamics, pointing to “corrupt gatekeepers” who actively oppose the technology. He noted a recurring pattern where systemic failures within the association are routinely pinned on SAFA CEO Danny Jordaan. According to McKenzie, certain individuals exploit this public perception and Jordaan’s willingness to absorb the blame, using it as a shield to protect their own obstructive activities.
Underscoring the severity of the internal blockade, McKenzie revealed that he has already identified the specific individuals responsible for the deadlock. He announced his intention to publicly name two SAFA officials who are “corrupt to the core” and actively hindering the state-funded initiative, promising to release their identities imminently.
As the clock ticks on the 21-day grace period, the standoff leaves South African football stakeholders in suspense. The resolution of this dispute will not only determine the financial accountability of the national association but also the immediate future of officiating technology and administrative transparency in the PSL.
