PARLIAMENT: Gayton McKenzie lashes out at Safa and demands R30m repayment

A heated parliamentary session saw Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie demand a R30m refund from Safa, as evasive officials faced scrutiny over VAR delays, administrative errors and coaching salaries.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie clashed with the South African Football Association (Safa) on Tuesday, demanding answers – and a R30-million refund – during a heated parliamentary committee hearing.

Fresh off Bafana Bafana’s historic run to the 2026 Fifa World Cup knockout stages, Safa officials appeared before the Sport, Arts and Culture Portfolio Committee to debrief Parliament on the team’s tournament performance and pre-World Cup administrative hurdles.

Safa was also called to account for the failed rollout of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. McKenzie reiterated his demand that Safa return R30-million in state funding after missing the deadline to implement VAR ahead of the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.

Conspicuous by his absence from the meeting was Safa’s president, Danny Jordaan .

At the recent South African Sports Awards , McKenzie slammed Safa for failing to implement VAR ahead of the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season, revealing he had formally requested the return of R30-million in departmental funding.

While PSL leadership oversees the top two tiers of South African professional soccer, the league remains dependent on Safa to supply match officials.

At the portfolio meeting, McKenzie reiterated his assertion that Safa should repay the money.

“I have been dragged in the media, and it seems like Safa does not care. Even in the political party I belong to [the Patriotic Alliance], I was called to account for the VAR that I promised the people. Publicly, I said nothing when I was accused of being a liar, hoping that Safa will come to my defence. There was not one statement from Safa,” McKenzie told the committee.

“We then wrote a letter to Safa, which was ignored. That’s where I lost it. How do you ignore me after receiving my money? After I have been nothing but good to Safa? I was highly offended.

“I then wrote them a subsequent letter, where I said to them they must return the R30-million, with immediate effect. It’s only then, when I got to hear from Safa, where they asked for a 21-day grace period.”

Despite repeated demands from the committee for an update on the VAR roll-out, the Safa delegation offered no clear answers, repeatedly deflecting responsibility.

The virtual sitting was punctuated by awkward silences as Safa representatives refused to answer direct questions, opting instead for evasive and roundabout responses when forced to speak.

The Democratic Alliance’s Leah Potgieter asked McKenzie why he had sent Safa public funds when it clearly did not have a plan for VAR.