South Africa’s Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie described SAFA’s travel and visa debacle as embarrassing and grossly unfair to Bafana Bafana players and coaching staff.
The senior national team’s departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in Mexico on Sunday has been postponed because several players have not yet received visas.
McKenzie demanded a full report from SAFA and insisted that action must be taken against those responsible for the mess and expressed strong displeasure, stating that the incident makes South Africa look foolish.
“This SAFA travel and visa debacle is embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff,” Mckenzie wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“I have informed SAFA that I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess.”
“We are being made to look like fools.”
South Africa will face Jamaica in a final warm-up friendly on 5 June in Pachuca, Mexico, as coach Hugo Broos uses the match to finalise his starting lineup.
Bafana will then open the 2026 World Cup in Group A against co-hosts Mexico on 11 June, followed by Czechia on 18 June and South Korea on 25 June.
