Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane with Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa. (Photo: GCIS)
- Banyana Banyana may have received financial assistance from the sports ministry, but calls have been growing for equal pay for major national teams.
- On top of the R9.2 million Banyana received for winning the African Women’s Cup of Nations, they received a further R5.8 million.
- South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan has lamented that women’s football is not fully recognized from a broadcast rights perspective.
Amid the sea of green and gold that enveloped Banyana Banyana at the OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, Africa Women’s Cup of Nations winners South Africa also received a major financial boost .
This took the form of an injection of R5.8 million from the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, as the continent’s conquerors were welcomed with open arms by a cheering crowd. jubilation at Kempton Park.
South Africa, coached by Desiree Ellis and led on the field by Refiloe Jane, beat Morocco 2-1 in Rabat on Saturday to win their first ever Wafcon title after five failed finals.
SUMMARY | Banyana Banyana Afcon winning coach Ellis hails ‘amazing, amazing team’
In addition to the bonus, demands for equal pay are also growing stronger, as the pay disparity between men’s and women’s football remains a point of contention.
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa told the arrival meeting that steps were being taken to address the pay disparity between men’s and women’s football.
“In this country, the law will stipulate that Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana will be paid equally,” Mthethwa said.
“We are taking this decision as a government. It is not just Banyana Banyana but all the women’s teams (who must be paid equally), we support them as a government.
“We told SAFA that when we give money to SAFA, they must set aside an amount for women in general.”
The cash injection from the sports ministry will be in addition to the R9.2 million already promised to the players by South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan before they left for their successful conquest of Morocco.
The money from the sports department means the total pot Banyana will split is R15 million, meaning each player can take home around R577 000 each.
GALLERY | South Africans head to OR Tambo Airport to welcome African champions Banyana Banyana
Even though it’s not within the stratospheric range of what men’s teams earn for participating and playing in the early rounds of the playoffs, it’s still a significant payday for players, especially with Hollywoodbets’ Super League, although very beneficial from a player development perspective, it is not yet fully professional.
Jordaan said more needed to be done to ensure the sport looked after the well-being of the women’s team.
“How is it that when broadcasting rights are paid, the women’s team is not taken into account?” Jordaan said in an impromptu speech in the player’s tent.
“It means their rights have no value. There are people who are Banyana’s business partners, which means this team has value.
“You can see it today.”
Democratic Alliance MP Tsepo Mhlongo, who also sits on the parliamentary portfolio committee on sports, welcomed Mthethwa’s decision to reward the Banyana for their six-match unbeaten run which earned them their first continental title.
“We welcome this gesture because it shows that taxpayers’ money is being used appropriately and can be accounted for,” Mhlongo said.
“We support the minister’s decision because it is for the good cause, but we remain convinced that the remuneration of men and women must be the same because they do the same work.”
Mhlongo also lamented how sporting organizations have flouted laws regarding gender pay disparities.
“Currently, sporting codes do not meet those of the Gender Equality Commission and we continue to see imbalances in the participation of women compared to men in different sports,” Mhlongo said.
