South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, says he has kept his promise for the implementation of the Video Referee Technology (VAR) in the local football league.

Mckenzie has been vocal about VAR for months, insisting that it is worth digging into the public purse to fund it and elevate the game.

On Wednesday, he confirmed that the National Treasury has now made a payment to the South African Football Association (SAFA) to proceed with its implementation.

“We have paid the money to SAFA for VAR to be delivered next season,” confirmed McKenzie.

The cost of implementation is reported to be between R70 million and R80 million as a once-off expense and then approximately R70 000 per game thereafter.

“Some people say we don’t need VAR. Football is not waiting for South Africa. Luckily, you have a minister, a deputy minister that is not slow,” said McKenzie.

“And we have now made sure that everything has been done. We are ready. We’ve kept our promise of VAR.

“In my hand here, I have the proof of payment that we wrote to Treasury. Treasury has given us permission. I have paid now from the department with the deal.”

Mckenzie added, “We have given the money for VAR to SAFA. They must just pay. So there’s nothing McKenzie can do anymore. So I’ve kept my promise. So I don’t want to hear somebody ask me where VAR is. Here is VAR. I have done my bit.”

South African football has for years been marred by poor refereeing, with VAR expected to improve the standard.

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has insisted that VAR should be implemented with immediate effect.

“Next season is too far. The game guys and I keep saying this is becoming too dynamic for the referees,” said Mngqithi on Wednesday evening, following their 2-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria.

“Every week we’ve been talking about this issue, because we are running one of the biggest leagues on the continent, and thus, we should understand the investment that is put into these clubs… I don’t have a problem with next season, but the reality is somebody would have been relegated because of (refereeing) mistakes or somebody would have lost the championship.”