Motloung Foundation gives SAFA seven days to account for VAR funds

The Motloung Foundation has called on the South African Football Association (SAFA) to account for millions of rand allegedly allocated for the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in South African football.

In a statement on Monday, the foundation said it supports Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie’s demand for transparency over the funds.

The foundation said the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture transferred R13 million to SAFA as a conditional grant earmarked for VAR, while reports have suggested that the amount could be as much as R20 million.

However, VAR has not yet been implemented in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

McKenzie has publicly questioned the whereabouts of the technology and asked: “Where is VAR?”

The Motloung Foundation said the money could have made a significant difference to grassroots football, particularly in rural communities.

“As an organisation that develops football in rural areas through the MMED Motloung Foundation Schools Super Cup and Motloung Foundation Development Tournament, we understand how much R13 million could do for grassroots football,” the foundation said.

It said the funds could have been used to provide football kits, transport and school facilities for young players.

The foundation has given SAFA seven days to provide public evidence showing how the conditional grant was used.

It has also called for the full amount to be returned to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture if the funds were not used to procure and implement VAR.

The organisation further wants SAFA leadership, under president Dr Danny Jordaan, to account to the public and Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sports.

The foundation warned that failure to provide satisfactory answers within seven days could result in it approaching several law-enforcement and oversight bodies.

These include the Public Protector, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Hawks, as well as opening a case with law-enforcement authorities to investigate possible misuse or misappropriation of public funds.

“Public money must work for the public,” the foundation said.

“We cannot allow funds meant to improve football to disappear while our rural children play without boots.”

The foundation also commended McKenzie for what it described as his transparency in providing proof of payment and said it expected the same level of transparency from SAFA.