The VAR saga in South African football has taken another dramatic turn, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie placing the Safa firmly on the clock. Facing an ultimatum, Safa now has until September 9 to account for the R20 million in public funds allocated to bring Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to local shores.
While the Department of Sport, (DSAC) confirmed the money sits untouched in a dedicated bank account, growing frustration over administrative delays and persistent refereeing blunders in the Betway Premiership have brought the project under intense public scrutiny.
Here is how the long-delayed VAR implementation saga has unfolded step-by-step
October 2024: The genesis and initial funding promises
First steps: The VAR process officially kicks off when Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie meets the Safa National Executive Committee (NEC) in Gqeberha, where the association formally embraces introducing the technology.
Budget deliberations: DSAC initially indicates that up to R90 million could be made available for the rollout, with R82 million set aside. Ultimately, National Treasury approves R20 million as an initial first tranche, with future funding tied directly to implementation milestones.
April 2025: Structuring the procurement
RFPs issued: Safa issues a formal Request for Proposals to market providers.
Committee formed: A joint tender evaluation committee —c omprising representatives from Safa, DSAC, and the PSL — is established. The process is aligned with Fifa’s VAR Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP), which mandates a detailed project plan, a dedicated VAR Project Team, and an approved technical solution.
November 2025: Fact-finding overseas
European delegation: A technical delegation including referees, media personnel, journalists, and administrators travels to Spain and the UK to observe operational VAR systems and determine the best setup for South Africa.
The only spent money: The mission to Spain costs R765 257.03. To date, this remains the only public money spent on the entire project.
Early 2026: The R54.7m plan and first tranche
Three-year strategy: Safa submits an amended three-year implementation plan valued at approximately R54.7 million. It envisages match-official training commencing in July 2026, experimental deployment during the 2026/27 Nedbank Cup semi-finals, and a full rollout for the 2027/28 season.
March 4-6: DSAC officially transfers the approved R20 million tranche into a separate, ring-fenced SAFA bank account accruing interest.
April-July 2026: Bureaucracy and stalled Progress
April: DSAC requests a written progress report from Safa; no report is provided.
May: Safa’s NEC approves the VAR project in principle, but orders yet another review of the budget before final sign-off.
July: The target month for match-official training arrives and passes. Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao publicly confirms that none of the government's transferred funds have been used.
August 2026: McKenzie intervenes and sets the ultimatum
August 13: Frustrated by inaction and speaking after the 19th South African Sport Awards at Sun City, McKenzie issues a formal demand for Safa to return the state's money.
August 18: Safa responds in writing, confirming the full R20 million remains intact alongside earned interest. Safa requests a 21-day grace period to complete an internal budget verification, which DSAC grants — establishing September 9 as the final reporting deadline.
Minister's outrage: McKenzie publicly apologises to South Africans for the delays. He warns that if Safa fails to provide a credible procurement plan, DSAC will claw back the funds and write directly to Fifa and CAF to bypass Safa entirely. He also alleges that corrupt internal "gatekeepers" at Safa are deliberately blocking VAR.
Safa's current position
Funds intact: Safa finance committee Chairperson Mxolisi Sibam confirms the R20 million sits in a separate account for government compliance.
Leadership and rollout targets: Sibam notes that former top referees Victor Gomes and Daniel Bennett are driving the process, with seven months of background work already completed.
Scope: Safa maintains they are aiming to have VAR operational for the start of next season, targeting end-users across both the PSL and the Hollywoodbets Women's Super League.
For now, the Ministry's stance remains firm: no public funds have been lost, but valuable time certainly has. All eyes remain fixed on Safa ahead of the September 9 deadline.