5 July 2023 -The Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture, the South African Football Football Association (SAFA) approached the Motsepe Foundation and other potential donors to assist and resolve the dispute between the Association and Banyana Banyana.
The Motsepe Foundation agreed to make a humble donation and this has resulted in an amicable resolution of the dispute.
The SASOL-sponsored South African senior women’s national team and the Technical Team are excited and in high spirts, and are focusing on making South Africa proud at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.
The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Mr Zizi Kodwa said: “I made the call for SAFA and SAFPU to come together to urgently address the concerns raised by Banyana Banyana who inspire the country so much. I am happy that they came together. The Motsepe Foundation was also approached and I am thrilled by the contribution that they made. Banyana Banyana can now focus fully on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, knowing that their immediate concerns have been addressed.”
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan was happy that all contractual issues had been resolved, and that Banyana Banyana were now focused on playing football.
“The team will now embark on the journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup and we are confident they have what it takes to make the country proud.
“They are mentally ready to face Sweden, Argentina and Italy as they fly out today,” said the SAFA President.
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe CEO and co-founder of the Motsepe Foundation said, “When the Motsepe Foundation was requested by the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture and SAFA to assist in resolving the dispute between SAFA and Banyana Banyana, we felt duty-bound to make a humble donation to ensure that our talented female players can fulfil their dreams of representing South Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. We believe that football has the power to bring together and unite people from different races and religious, ethnic and income groups and these are some of the reasons the Motsepe Foundation has supported and sponsored football competitions and development projects over the years. We would like to thank Minister Kodwa and everybody who contributed to resolving the dispute and wish Banyana Banyana everything of the very best at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.”
The resolution of the SAFA and Banyana Banyana dispute is a good example of the ability of South Africans to co-operate and work together to solve problems and difficulties in football and other spheres of life.
Meanwhile, ITHUBA pledged R2 million towards Banyana Banyana’s Women’s World Cup journey.
“To the players of Banyana Banyana, we believe in your abilities, strength, and collective power to inspire millions of aspiring young soccer players in our country,” said Michelle van Trotsenburg, the head of marketing and corporate affairs at ITHUBA.