By Thapelo Molefe
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has criticised the South African Football Association (SAFA) over its reported remuneration offer to Pitso Mosimane, saying the proposal undervalues one of Africa’s most successful football coaches.
Mosimane is set to return as Bafana Bafana head coach after SAFA’s National Executive Committe endorsed his appointment, although contract negotiations still have to be concluded.
The reported salary for the deal has, however, become a major point of contention.
According to reports, SAFA initially offered Mosimane about R5 million a year, equivalent to roughly R416,000 a month. His camp rejected the offer, after which SAFA reportedly improved the package to approximately R10 million a year.
Former Bafana coach Hugo Broos was widely reported to have earned between R1.5 million and R1.8 million a month, while Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was reportedly paid about R1.8 million a month during his time in charge.
The EFF said the alleged offer was inconsistent with Mosimane’s experience, achievements and standing in African football.
“This is unacceptable,” the party said in a statement.
Mosimane has already coached Bafana Bafana and went on to build one of the most decorated club coaching careers on the continent.
He led Mamelodi Sundowns to their first CAF Champions League title in 2016 before moving to Egyptian giants Al Ahly, where he won consecutive CAF Champions League titles in 2020 and 2021.
He has also won CAF Super Cups, domestic league titles and other major honours in South Africa and Egypt.
The reported R5 million initial offer would also have represented a significant drop from Mosimane’s own remuneration during his first spell as Bafana coach.
Mosimane was previously reported to have earned about R800,000 a month, or R9.6 million a year, when he took charge of the national team.
The EFF questioned why a coach with three CAF Champions League titles would be offered substantially less than a foreign coach who previously occupied the same position.
“The question that SAFA must answer is simple: Why is a South African coach with three CAF Champions League titles being offered substantially less than a white foreign coach?” the party said.
It said the disparity raised concerns about what it said was the continued racialised valuation of black expertise in South Africa.
“For decades, Black professionals have been expected to achieve more while being paid less, while white expertise is automatically assumed to carry greater value,” the EFF said.
It said that Mosimane’s reported remuneration risked reproducing this pattern within South African football.
“It cannot be that when a European coach occupies the Bafana Bafana job, SAFA finds the resources to recognise and remunerate that expertise at a premium, but when a Black South African coach with an extraordinary record is considered for the same position, his value suddenly drops dramatically.”
The EFF said SAFA must account publicly for the difference between the remuneration offered to Mosimane and that paid to previous Bafana coaches.
It called on the association to review its offer and ensure that Mosimane’s remuneration reflects his experience, qualifications and achievements.
“South Africa cannot claim to value transformation while systematically undervaluing the very Black professionals who have achieved excellence at the highest levels,” the party said.
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