South Africa Sports Minister Rebukes Safa Over 'Embarrassing' World Cup Visa Issues
Gayton McKenzie called for action against those responsible for travel delays that left Bafana Bafana stranded ahead of their opening match in Mexico.
Primary source: BBC World News. Full source links and update notes are below.
Fast summary
Start here
- South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie criticized the national football association (Safa) for travel delays caused by visa issues.
- While all players have now received clearance to travel on Monday, several support staff members are still awaiting visas.
- The team is scheduled to play the World Cup opening match against Mexico on June 11 after a final friendly against Jamaica.
What happened
South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, issued a sharp public rebuke of the South African Football Association (Safa) after the national team’s travel to Mexico for the upcoming World Cup was delayed by visa complications. McKenzie described the situation as making the country "look like fools" and called the logistical failure "grossly unfair" to the players and coaching staff.
What's new in this update
Following the minister's intervention and coordination with the government's international relations department, McKenzie confirmed late Sunday that all players have received permission to travel. A chartered flight is scheduled to depart on Monday. However, the administrative issues are not fully resolved, as the assistant coach, team doctor, head of security, and one analyst have yet to secure their visas.
Key details
The "administrative bungle," as described by national broadcaster SABC, involved challenges securing visas for both Mexico and the United States. Bafana Bafana is scheduled to play its second tournament match against the Czech Republic in Atlanta, Georgia, which requires US entry permits. Safa acknowledged the "challenges regarding visas" but did not provide specific details explaining the delay in the application process.
Background and context
South Africa is one of ten African nations participating in the expanded 48-team World Cup, marking the team's first appearance in the tournament since they hosted the finals in 2010. Preparation for the event has been rocky; Bafana Bafana’s final home friendly on Friday ended in a 0-0 draw against Nicaragua, extending their current winless run to four games.
What to watch next
The team is scheduled to face Jamaica in a final friendly match in Mexico City this Friday before playing the World Cup opening match against co-host Mexico on June 11. Minister McKenzie has demanded a full explanation for the travel debacle, stating that action must be taken against those responsible for the disruption once the team's immediate travel needs are met.
Why this matters
The administrative failure risks disrupting South Africa's first World Cup appearance since 2010 and has caused a public rift between the government and football officials.
Reader context
This story belongs to Northstar Herald's International Relations coverage, with related entities including South Africa, Bafana Bafana, World Cup, Gayton McKenzie. The report is based on BBC World News source material.
Related coverage
Why it matters
The administrative failure risks disrupting South Africa's first World Cup appearance since 2010 and has caused a public rift between the government and football officials.
Read next
Follow this story through the topic hub, more world coverage, and the latest updates.
Weekly briefing
Get the week's key developments in one concise email.
Get a fast catch-up on the biggest stories, the context behind them, and the links worth your time.
Cadence
Weekly, for a quick catch-up
Coverage
AI, business, world, security, sports
Format
Clear takeaways and useful context
Request the briefing
Leave your email to open a prepared request and get on the list for the weekly briefing.
Author
See who assembled this story and follow more of their work.
Sources and methodology