By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton Mckenzie has written to the South African Football Association (SAFA) demanding a detailed report on the Bafana Bafana yellow card saga.
The team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this week after securing a 3-0 win over Rwanda and Nigeria’s subsequent 4-0 win over Benin.
The latter end of their qualification campaign was hit with tremendous pressure following a three-point deduction by FIFA.
This was punishment for fielding a suspended Teboho Mokoena, who had been yellow-carded for the second time against Lesotho in March.
But Bafana Bafana still managed to reclaim Group C and make it to the World Cup.
However, while SAFA president Danny Jordaan says the Mokoena matter is now in the past, McKenzie insists heads should roll.
“We are going to the World Cup, so the matter is closed, we are not interested in the matter… We have qualified, we are not going to dwell on what is behind us,” said Jordaan.
“What is in front us is the World Cup and AFCON. The coach must have told you that we are now focusing on the next one, the AFCON in Morocco and the World Cup.”
In response, McKenzie in his letter, said he acknowledged Jordaan’s comments that the matter has been closed however its important to prioritize the transparency and accountability.
“South Africans deserve full re-assurance that the appropriate consequence management has been taken for those responsible and implementation of robust remedial actions to prevent such error from recurring in future, the letter reads.”
The letter further states that the minister will write to FIFA to extend the apology for the oversight and to reaffirm South Africa’s unwavering dedication to abiding by the rules of the game.”
The minister gave SAFA 7 days upon receiving the letter to submit a report to his office.
Bafana Bafana have now set their eyes on the AFCON finals where they will be bidding to be crowned African champions for the first time since 1996.