Zungu demands Bafana Bafana World Cup bonuses are paid by Thursday

Sandile Zungu has given the South African Football Association (Safa) until Thursday to pay Bafana Bafana players and the technical team their World Cup bonuses, warning that anyone responsible could be dismissed if he is elected president this weekend.

More than a month after Safa received $12m (about R218m) for Bafana Bafana’s performance at the tournament, the bonuses have still not been paid. The delay has prompted concerns among some of the players.

The squad were reportedly promised R2m each for the three group-stage matches. After Bafana Bafana progressed to the last 32, the amount was understood to have increased to about R2.5m per player from their R65m share.

Safa received the R218m from Fifa after Bafana Bafana reached the last 32, where they were beaten by Canada. Hours after Zungu issued his warning, Safa said the delay was linked to “international tax compliance regulations in the United States and Mexico”, where the tournament was held.

Zungu, the owner of AmaZulu and a challenger to Danny Jordaan in the Safa presidential election, said the money must be deposited into the players’ accounts by the close of business on Thursday.

“Why are we treating our athletes with such utter disrespect? It’s embarrassing. Go to AmaZulu and ask any player who has played for the club or who is playing for AmaZulu if he ever gets paid a day later than a contractual day,” Zungu explained to the media during his presidential campaign in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Monday.

“If you find one, give that ammunition to the opposition because then they will find something that they will use against Sandile Zungu. And I can assure you, your contract, you must deliver, we obliged.

“And that’s what I’m trying to bring at Safa, your contract, there must not be a debate, you earned it.

“On that note I’m actually throwing a gauntlet to the Safa executive right now to say if that money is not in the bank accounts of the players, by the close of business on Thursday, when I walk into the office, those who are responsible for this injustice will account.”

He later made clear that those responsible for the delay would lose their jobs if he won the election and the money had not been paid by the deadline.

“Let me repeat, that money that belongs to Bafana Bafana players and technical team… it must be in their accounts by close of business on Thursday,” he said.

“If it is not, the people responsible for that injustice will account when I move into office as the president of Safa. They should consider themselves fired.”

Safa said it had appointed specialist legal and tax advisers in both the United States and Mexico because the World Cup matches were played in those countries.

“As (World Cup matches) were played in both the US and Mexico, Safa is required to comply with the applicable federal and state tax laws. Given the complexities of these requirements, Safa appointed specialist legal and tax advisers in both jurisdictions,” the association said.

Safa did not provide a specific payment date but said the bonuses would be paid “as expeditiously as possible”.