Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has instructed the South African Football Association (SAFA) to furnish him with a detailed report regarding the fielding of an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho.
The administrative mistake led to Bafana Bafana being docked three points and fined more than R210 000.
McKenzie’s unhappiness emerged in the apology letter he sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, where he apologised for the debacle describing it as a regrettable incident and vowing to act against those responsible for the incident.
“On behalf of the South African government and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, I extend our sincerest apologies to FIFA for this administrative oversight, which unfortunately brought South African football into disrepute.
“Please be assured that it is not my intention, nor that of my department, to interfere in the administration of football, which we recognise as the sole purview of FIFA and the South African Football Association (SAFA).
“However, as a nation, we are deeply committed to upholding the integrity of the game and maintaining South Africa’s reputation on the global stage,” wrote McKenzie.
The letter comes just a few days after Bafana qualified for the global showpiece by beating Rwanda 3-0 at the Mbombela stadium on Tuesday, to qualify for the tournament which will be held in Mexico, Canada, and the US.
SAFA President Danny Jordaan was quoted in the media saying that “the incident is closed” and that they’re now focusing on preparations for the CAF African Cup of Nations in December and the World Cup.
But McKenzie and SAFA are heading for a collision, as McKenzie is demanding answers from the association.
“I have formally written to the leadership of SAFA, specifically Dr. Jordaan and Chief Financial Officer Lydia Monyepao, requesting a comprehensive report detailing the circumstances that
led to this error, the accountability measures implemented, and the remedial steps taken to ensure such an incident cannot recur.
“South Africa prides itself on playing fair and adhering to the principles of sportsmanship and the rules of the game as set out by FIFA,” McKenzie.
In addition, the minister said the incident has cast a shadow over the government’s commitment to these values.
