The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) has formally stepped in to challenge the South African Football Association (SAFA) over unpaid bonuses allegedly owed to the Bafana Bafana squad that competed in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Six months after the tournament concluded in East Africa, several members of the locally assembled “B-team” squad claim they are still waiting for their performance bonuses. A number of the players were unattached at the time of the competition and say the delayed payments have left them financially strained.
Neo Maema Raises Alarm
The matter came to light when CHAN captain Neo Maema publicly revealed that the squad has not received the bonuses reportedly promised for their participation.
“From me being the captain, I can testify that they haven’t paid,” Maema stated.
The midfielder indicated that players were expecting performance-based payments following their third-place finish in a competitive Group C. Reports suggest each player was due approximately R100,000. Maema further claimed that SAFA had already received the relevant funds from CAF months ago, with an initial December payment deadline having passed without settlement.
Thulani Hlatshwayo Leads Union Intervention
Newly elected SAFPU president and former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani “Tyson” Hlatshwayo has confirmed that the union is now engaging SAFA to resolve the matter.
“Definitely, after we saw the news, the players asked for our assistance,” Hlatshwayo said. “We reached out to SAFA, and the matter is still new; we are currently in the process of it.”
At the centre of the dispute is a reported shift in SAFA’s payment structure. Instead of the traditional match-fee system — previously around R60,000 per win — the association allegedly opted for a tournament-based performance payout model for CHAN.
While SAFA has historically staggered payments due to cash-flow challenges, players argue that a six-month delay is excessive — particularly for those without club contracts at the time.
With SAFPU now officially involved, attention turns to SAFA leadership to clarify the status of the CAF funds and provide a timeline for payment to the players who represented the country.