South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton Mckenzie, has expressed his dismay at recent comments by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Broos raised eyebrows when he said he was not feeling the “vibe” in the North African state, as compared to previous tournaments. “I don’t feel the same vibe compared to what I felt in Gabon or the Ivory Coast,” said Broos. McKenzie has fired back at Broos, accusing the latter of disrespecting…

South Africa’s national teams have been handsomely rewarded by the sports ministry for their respective successes in recent times. The senior football team Bafana Bafana will receive R5 million to share amongst the players and technical team. This comes after Hugo Broos’s men qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, ahead of Nigeria and Benin in Group C of the qualifiers. “This investment is a testament to their hard work and the pride they instill in our nation,” said sports…

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton Mckenzie has confirmed that Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka was fetching ice for the team when he missed the yellow card that almost cost Bafana Bafana a place in next year’s FIFA World Cup. Bafana Bafana have qualified for the World Cup despite being docked three points after midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded in the 2-0 win over Lesotho in March despite sitting on two yellow cards, meaning he was suspended for…

Nigerian football administrator Amaju Melvin Pinnick has called out South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie for the latter’s comments against the West African nation. The straight-talking McKenzie caused a stir during his interview with Marawa Sports Worldwide some days ago, saying he is against Nigeria qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup via the play-off route. Mckenzie’s comments stem from suggestions that Nigeria was leading the charge for Bafana Bafana to be docked points for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena,…

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton Mckenzie has urged the South African Football Association (SAFA) to take responsibility for the yellow card saga. The matter relates to Bafana Bafana being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The blunder cost Bafana Bafana three points after FIFA awarded Lesotho a 3-0 win and fined SAFA R216 000 while cautioning Mokoena. Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka is at the centre…

The South African Football Association (SAFA) employee(s) who almost cost Bafana Bafana their FIFA 2026 World Cup spot will face no punishment, according to president Danny Jordaan. You would be forgiven for thinking heads would roll for the grave error, but no, it is business as usual at SAFA House. Bafana Bafana were almost home and dry when FIFA acted and sanctioned Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player in midfielder Teboho Mokoena, in the 2-0 win over Lesotho played…

South African football’s dream of utilising the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system is closer to reality. This comes after the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture allocated R82-million for VAR. “The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is pleased to announce significant progress in the procurement and implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for South African football, in close collaboration with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL),” announced the department on…

A group of 15 NGOs (non-governmental organisations) has called out the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, for his directive that all foreign nationals employed by entities funded by his department be removed from their positions. The NGOs say McKenzie’s directive is unlawful and incites hate against foreign nationals. This comes after he declared at the signing of stakeholder compacts with public entities under his department: “I want them out… Get them out before I get you out.”…

Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton Mckenzie has demanded answers after Limpopo learner athletes were deprived of food and slept in a bus ahead of the 2025 national schools Sports Championship Autumn games. The Limpopo athletic team pulled out of the sports championships Autumn games in the final stages due to accommodations and other logistical issues. The week-long championships were held in Bloemfontein in the Free State province from 2 to 6 April 2025. According to one athlete’s parent who…

The late American economist Paul Samuelson once said, “Politicians like to tell people what they want to hear—and what they want to hear is what won’t happen.” For now, however, Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie is living up to his promise on the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). McKenzie has for months been talking about VAR and how crucial it would be for the PSL, considering the questionable refereeing calls that…