Zungu threatens SAFA dismissals over delayed Bafana Bafana bonuses

Sandile Zungu has warned that SAFA executives could be dismissed if Bafana Bafana players and members of the technical team do not receive their outstanding 2026 World Cup bonuses before he takes office.

The AmaZulu FC president and SAFA presidential candidate gave the warning at a press conference at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Monday. He said those responsible had until 10 September to resolve the dispute, adding that failure to do so could lead to dismissals if he wins Saturday’s elective congress.

Zungu questioned why players and staff were still waiting for payments they were contractually promised after Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time.

“These are people who kept up awake at night because they were flying our flag high and it’s public knowledge that they were going to receive incentives, it is known to the public so why a month after it was supposed to have been received, they’re now begging for what belongs to them,” he said.

South Africa’s progress beyond the group stage generated a significant financial return for the South African Football Association. SAFA has confirmed it received R218 million from FIFA after the team advanced, in addition to R41 million allocated for tournament preparation.

An agreement reached before the competition stipulated that half of the World Cup earnings would be shared between the players and the technical team. The players’ portion has been reported to be about R65 million.

SAFA has said the rest of the money will support football development and administration, with more than R100 million set aside for projects across the country’s football ecosystem.

However, Zungu said those plans must not delay payments that have already been earned by the team.

“Why are we treating our athletes with such disrespect, in my opinion it’s actually embarrassing. If something is contracted, there must be no debates, it must be in your account, you’ve earned it.”

He has made the bonus dispute a central part of his attempt to replace incumbent SAFA president Danny Jordaan at the 12 September election.

“So on that money note, I’m laying down the gauntlet on the executives of SAFA right now, if that money is not in bank accounts of Bafana players and the technical team by close of business on Thursday, when I walk into that office, those that are culpable for this injustice, will account when I move into that office, they will consider themselves fired,” said Zungu.

The comments came as Zungu’s campaign gathered momentum ahead of the vote. SAFA’s governance committee has confirmed that both presidential candidates are eligible to contest the election, formally clearing Zungu to challenge Jordaan.

The delayed bonus payments have allowed Zungu to draw a clear distinction between his proposed leadership and the current administration. Accountability and governance are key themes of his campaign, and he has presented the dispute as an example of what he believes is a failure to fulfil SAFA’s obligations.

Zungu’s position is that the players and technical staff should receive the money promised to them before further decisions are made about the remaining World Cup funds. His deadline places additional pressure on SAFA’s executives in the days before the elective congress.

The dispute therefore forms both a financial and political challenge for the association, with the people who helped Bafana Bafana achieve a historic World Cup result still waiting for the rewards agreed before the tournament.