The South African Football Association (SAFA) is facing mounting criticism after visa-related administrative issues delayed Bafana Bafana’s departure for their final 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations.
The national team was scheduled to travel to Mexico on Sunday as part of its build-up to the tournament, but documentation complications forced a last-minute postponement, disrupting plans just days before South Africa’s opening match.
The delay has drawn a strong reaction from Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe, who called for those responsible to be held accountable and demanded a full explanation from the country’s football governing body.
Speaking on the matter, Mabe questioned how such an oversight could occur at a crucial stage of the team’s World Cup preparations and warned that recurring administrative failures risk damaging the country’s reputation on the international stage.
According to the Deputy Minister, accountability within sporting institutions remains essential if similar incidents are to be prevented in the future. She stressed that officials responsible for operational planning must explain the circumstances that led to the disruption.
The incident has also reignited debate over governance within South African football. Mabe suggested that sporting bodies should not use their autonomous status as a shield against scrutiny when public resources, national teams and international commitments are involved.
Her comments indicate a growing willingness from government to demand greater transparency from sporting federations, particularly when organisational shortcomings affect national representation.
Although the visa issues were eventually resolved and the team departed a day later than planned, questions remain over how the situation was allowed to develop so close to the tournament.
For head coach Hugo Broos and his players, the focus now shifts back to football as they continue preparations for their World Cup opener against hosts Mexico on June 11. However, off-field concerns surrounding the administration of the game have once again placed SAFA under the spotlight at a time when attention should be centred on the team’s prospects on the global stage.
With pressure mounting, the federation is expected to provide a detailed account of the events that led to the delay and outline measures aimed at preventing similar disruptions in the future.
