McKenzie Slams SAFA Over Mosimane Deal: Is It Apartheid Thinking?

eish, Chillers, drop whatever tea you were spilling about the weekend because my phone just decided to blow up with updates from the sports world, and honestly, we need to talk about the absolute circus surrounding the national team. Jump straight into the chaos without throat-clearing: if you ask me, the way SAFA handles money reads like a masterclass in overthinking, and I could be wrong, but watching this unfold makes me wonder if they’re actively trying to sabotage their own success.

A Remnant of Something Old?

The streets are saying Minister Gayton McKenzie isn’t holding back, and frankly, neither should we. He has publicly slammed the South African Football Association for how they’ve been wrangling with Pitso Mosimane regarding the head coaching position. McKenzie didn’t mince words, labeling the association’s approach a remnant of apartheid thinking. Now, that’s a heavy label to throw around, but when you see the wheels spinning slowly, the comparison actually sticks in my mind.

Knowing Your Worth Versus Making a Scene

Here is the drama we’ve been fed: Mosimane initially turned down a proposed salary of approximately R5 million per year when the talks first started. Then, after all that shuffling and waiting, he eventually agreed to a higher offer. You tell the story, but does that back-and-forth really benefit the fans sitting at home? My take is that it looks less like smart strategy and more like a game of chicken where everyone loses patience.

No, no, no, we aren’t judging Mosimane for wanting better pay—face card for face card, anyone would want more if the table offers less—but the entire process feels messy. I judge people who drag out negotiations until the very last second, especially when the country is watching. If you ask me, that reads as unnecessary drama that distracts from the actual job at hand.

Meanwhile, there is a serious side to this week that demands our respect. While the football business was being played out, the minister also stepped in to pledge financial support in memory of the late boxing star Zolani Tete. That is the kind of action that actually moves the needle, showing that behind the bureaucratic noise, there are real human lives and legacies that deserve honour, not just administrative delays.

We don’t judge here, but we do expect better from the institutions meant to serve us. The contrast between a swift, dignified pledge for a fallen athlete and a drawn-out saga over a coaching salary is too sharp to ignore. It forces us to ask whether the system is broken or if the people running it just forgot how to work together, and my bet is that leadership is currently missing from the room.

So, Chillers, settle this in the comments: Does SAFA need to hand over total control of negotiations to the government to stop the mess, or do they absolutely have to run the show themselves to maintain independence?