South African Minister of Sport, Art & Culture, Gayton McKenzie has questioned the absence of VAR in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for 2026-27, and threatened to recall a payment to the South African Football Association (SAFA).
It is the latest twist in the minister's long-running attempt to force movement in the implementation of VAR technology in South Africa's professional divisions.
South Africa's top two divisions -- the Premiership and the Motsepe Foundation Championship (otherwise known as the National First Division) -- are under the administration of the PSL, but referees are governed by SAFA.
Speaking to media at the South African Sports Awards in Sun City, McKenzie said: "I took R30 million (approximately $1,873,000) and I gave it to SAFA.
"I can tell you now: I can't do more as the minister. I wrote SAFA a letter where I said they should return their money and SAFA asked for 21 days grace."
McKenzie had initially been reported as citing the figure as R13 million (approximately $811,000), but as per SABC Sport's Velile Mnyandu, he later told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Sport, Arts & Culture that R30 million was the correct figure.
"I am just as angry (as anyone) because what more can I do? I asked them in the letter: 'Bring back my money - the money of the state,' because I am responsible for it. They said they will act. For me, there was no action.
"We were supposed to have VAR, so people shouldn't look at me. I'm the minister that put it on the table that we should have VAR. I did everything humanly possible. Now, I'm writing to FIFA. I've already spoken to FIFA, but they said that I must put it in writing."
SAFA head of referees Abdul Ebrahim told SABC Sport a month ago: "With regards to VAR, as was mentioned previously, we have received, everybody is aware we have received the funding from the government with regards to that, and discussions are underway as far as the next steps are concerned.
"We have to get approval from the leadership, which is the National Executive Committee (NEC), and once that approval is received, then we can commence with our training sessions. For 2026-27, probably not."
"We could, if things go well, we could see VAR being introduced in the latter stages of the season, but obviously we have a VAR project team in place, and once they are ready to do their media brief, they will provide much more information as to what the next steps are, how long the next steps are going to take, and obviously when the full integration of VAR will be in our leagues."
McKenzie, however, defended SAFA president Danny Jordaan, saying: "I can tell you now it's not Danny Jordaan, it's other individuals there that are blocking this thing and I will name them soon enough."
McKenzie has a complex history with the association -- at times publicly lambasting them and at other times shielding them from criticism.
After Teboho Mokoena had played while ineligible in March due to suspension via an accumulation of yellow cards and South Africa lost the three points they had earned in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, McKenzie was initially fuming and demanded accountability from SAFA.
However, he later accepted SAFA's account that team manager Vincent Tseka had left to fetch ice and was therefore unaware of the yellow card which had led to Mokoena's suspension.
Football is South Africa's most popular sport, and McKenzie has been consistently vocal about its national governing body's perceived successes and failures since he took office in July 2024 as part of a coalition government.
McKenzie is the leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) - one of the smaller parties in a coalition government led by the African National Congress (ANC), which formed after the ANC dropped below 50% of the vote in the 2024 national election.
Jordaan alluded publicly three months ago to the at times disruptive, and at times vocally supportive approach that McKenzie has taken towards South African football three months ago, using an anecdote about his lambasting of Bafana Bafana inside the dressing room shortly after taking office.
"When we played to a 2-2 draw at Orlando Stadium (against Uganda in 2024), he came into the dressing room," Jordaan said at May's FIFA World Cup squad announcement ceremony in Pretoria.
"I know that [then head coach] Hugo Broos was not happy, because he told us what he thought of that performance because there was a goal from [close to] halfway with the then-goalkeeper who is not here anymore (Veli Mothwa).
"[McKenzie] said: 'I expect better than this.' The players were not happy. [Broos and/or the players] said: 'No, but why are you bringing that man here? He's telling us a lot of nonsense.'
"We parted ways on that unhappy note, but when things turned and the team became successful, [McKenzie] was the first to acknowledge: 'You've turned things around. I'm happy and I'm supporting you.'
"That support is unconditional and it's not compromised by who is in the room and who listens. Now, it's on Facebook and Twitter (X) - he is one of our biggest supporters."
Jordaan may still be in McKenzie's good graces for the moment, but once again, the association at large finds itself at risk of falling out.
McKenzie was also critical of SAFA for failing to wrap up the appointment of Pitso Mosimane after the NEC announced him as their preferred candidate earlier in August, suggesting that he was unhappy at reports that pay negotiations had caused a roadblock.
SAFA has made no further announcement on the coaching position since initially revealing that Mosimane would be appointed pending the finalisation of "loose ends".