The Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture has noted with appreciation the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s mediation efforts and the crucial intervention made by the Motsepe Foundation to resolve the crisis at the Banyana Banyana camp.

The committee Chairperson, Ms Beauty Dlulane, said the committee was very concerned about the matter that rocked the camp ahead of their departure for the Women’s Football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“The threat and the impact of this action was so real, and could easily have jeopardised our bid to host the 2027 World Cup. We note the agreement reached with appreciation and excitment, and call on SAFA to ensure that any gaps that may still exist are taken care of.

“We want our team to succeed and be completely free from the chains of the past, where women’s sport was taken for granted. Snide remarks made about how the team will perform are an indication of the work that still needs to be done in the space of women’s sport in general.”

Ms Dlulane said any comparison with Bafana Bafana was unfair and that is not how women’s sport should be viewed. “In our country we are still fighting to professionalise women’s football, but that should not mean women are not entitled to what Bafana get for appearances at FIFA sanctioned tournaments.”

The African Champions, Banyana Banyana, experienced contractual issues ahead of the last preparatory friendly against Botswana on the weekend, which resulted in a second-tier team being fielded. That issue has been resolved and bonus payments are now confirmed.

Ms Dlulane added that the committee is happy that everything has been resolved amicably. “This is not how matters should have panned out ahead of a major tournament but we are happy.” The committee wished Banyana Banyana well on their crusade to conquer the world of women’s football.

Source: Parliament of South Africa