Sandile Zungu has turned up the pressure on the South African Football Association (SAFA), demanding that outstanding 2026 FIFA World Cup bonuses owed to Bafana Bafana players and technical staff be paid by close of business on Thursday, 10 September — or those responsible could face dismissal if he wins the SAFA presidency.
The dispute has added another dramatic chapter to an already tense SAFA presidential race, with Zungu preparing to challenge incumbent president Danny Jordaan at the association’s elective congress on Saturday, 12 September.
The AmaZulu chairman and presidential candidate has made the delayed bonuses a major issue in his campaign, questioning why players who represented South Africa at the World Cup are still waiting for performance-related payments more than a month after the tournament ended.
Zungu gives SAFA a Thursday deadline
Zungu has delivered a clear ultimatum to SAFA executives: the outstanding bonuses must be in the bank accounts of the players and technical team by the end of Thursday.
If that does not happen, Zungu has warned that those responsible for the delay should expect consequences if he is elected president.
His position is that the players earned the bonuses and that contractual commitments should be honoured without prolonged delays.
The issue has therefore become about more than money. For Zungu, it is also a question of governance, accountability and how SAFA treats the players representing the country on the international stage.
Why are the bonuses still unpaid?
SAFA has provided a different explanation for the delay.
The association says the outstanding payments are specifically linked to 2026 FIFA World Cup bonuses, rather than players’ regular allowances, fees or other payments.
According to SAFA, the delay is the result of outstanding international tax-compliance requirements in the United States and Mexico, where Bafana played during the World Cup.
Because the tournament involved matches in both countries, SAFA says it must comply with applicable US federal and state tax laws, as well as Mexican tax legislation. The association has appointed specialist legal and tax advisers in both jurisdictions to assist with the process.
SAFA says progress has already been made. Among the developments is the association obtaining an Employer Identification Number from the US Internal Revenue Service, while its advisers work on finalising the necessary tax calculations and documentation.
The Mexican tax process is also reportedly being finalised.
SAFA maintains that the bonuses will be processed once the relevant tax requirements have been completed and says it is committed to paying all legitimate amounts as quickly as possible.
How much money is involved?
The financial stakes are significant.
SAFA received approximately R218 million from FIFA following Bafana Bafana’s performance at the 2026 World Cup, after the team progressed to the knockout stage.
Reports indicate that the players and technical team were entitled to a substantial share of the tournament earnings, with the players’ portion reported at around R65 million.
The bonus structure reportedly meant players were initially due approximately R2 million each for the three group-stage matches, with the amount increasing after Bafana progressed to the last 32.
SAFA has stressed that other payments due to the players and support staff have already been settled, leaving the World Cup performance bonuses as the outstanding amounts.
Bafana’s historic World Cup campaign
The bonus dispute comes against the backdrop of what was a historic campaign for Bafana Bafana.
South Africa reached the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a significant achievement that generated additional financial rewards for the association.
However, instead of celebrating the team’s progress, the delayed bonuses have become a source of frustration and political controversy.
Zungu believes players should not have to wait for money they were promised after helping South Africa achieve its World Cup objective.
For him, the dispute illustrates what he believes needs to change within SAFA if he takes over the organisation.
Election battle adds another layer to the dispute
The timing of the bonus controversy is particularly significant.
SAFA’s elective congress is scheduled for Saturday, 12 September, with Zungu challenging Jordaan for the presidency.
That means the Thursday payment deadline comes just two days before the leadership vote.
The issue has consequently become a key talking point in the presidential contest, with Zungu using the delayed payments to underline his campaign message around accountability and stronger governance.
If the bonuses are paid before Thursday’s deadline, it could ease some of the pressure on the current SAFA administration.
If they are not, the issue could become even more politically damaging — particularly if Zungu succeeds in his presidential bid.
So, will the money land?
That is now the question hanging over SAFA.
The association says the process is progressing and that the delay is linked to international tax requirements rather than a refusal to pay the players.
However, SAFA has not publicly committed to a specific payment date, saying only that the outstanding bonuses will be processed once the applicable tax requirements have been completed.
Zungu, meanwhile, has set his own deadline.
By close of business on Thursday, 10 September, he wants the money in the players’ accounts.
If it is not, he has warned that those responsible could be held accountable — and potentially lose their positions should he become SAFA president.
With the presidential election only days away, the clock is ticking.
Will SAFA beat Zungu’s Thursday deadline and get the Bafana bonuses paid, or could the dispute trigger a major shake-up at the association?
The answer could have financial, administrative and political consequences for South African football.
