The South African Football Association (SAFA) has proposed a new bonus structure that would see Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana earn less to play for the country’s senior national football teams, reports the Sowetan newspaper.

According to documents that were to be presented at last Saturday’s aborted National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, players will receive between 20% and 45% of tournament winnings, depending on the elimination stage.

This would drastically curtail players’ bonuses from tournaments. For instance, according to SAFA’s financial report, Bafana players and staff shared R40m of the R47m won for finishing third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In the new structure, they would be entitled to just under R21m, or 44%, as per the Sowetan.

SAFA and Bafana Bafana are expected to soon resume bonus talks ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

“If FIFA splits the money between players and member associations, then the Bafana bonuses must be the same as what is allocated by FIFA. SAFA will not contribute additional bonuses to the players,” reads the proposal from the finance committee.

Bafana are drawn in Group A at the World Cup and will play the opening match against Mexico on 11 June. Should they finish fourth in that group, players would get just 20% of the R144m FIFA will pay for finishing in that position.

If they reach the quarterfinals, they will share 30% of the R310m FIFA will pay for that stage.

The winners of this year’s World Cup will get a whopping R815m ($50m).

As per the report, the national captains are yet to be consulted, while the South African Football Players’ Union (SAFPU) is also in the dark at this stage.

SAFA’s latest financial statement for the year ending June 2025 showed the association is in the red, with a R23 million deficit.