The start of the Eastern Cape Sasol League 2025 season has been suspended indefinitely after teams competing in the division protested the non-payment of their travelling allowances, referee subsidies, and prize money from the 2024 season.
Initially, the Sasol league’s new season was expected to start on March 29, but teams requested the opening fixtures be postponed while they awaited the South African Football Association (SAFA) to pay their outstanding monies by the end of March 2025. SAFA subsequently rescheduled the start of the season to April 12, as teams indicated they were struggling financially to transport their players, pay match officials, and book sports fields.
However, on April 9, Sasol league teams wrote to SAFA informing the association that they had yet to receive the promised payments. In their letter, the teams requested SAFA to postpone the league kickoff again while they waited for their outstanding monies.
SAFA responded to the teams’ request by sending a message confirming the suspension: “Good morning, Team managers. This communication refers to the communication received on April 9. The Sasol League kick-off has been suspended until further notice. Card collection will be on hold. Please monitor your registrations via the online app accordingly during this period. We apologise for any inconvenience to our clubs, sponsors, media and supporters.”
National crisis and ministerial appeal
The payment crisis extends beyond just the Eastern Cape, with Sasol teams from all nine provinces in South Africa requesting an urgent meeting with the Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, to intervene in their ongoing unpaid salaries crisis. The teams have also written to SAFA president Danny Jordaan seeking clarity over their unpaid grant money.
Team owners who spoke to Mthatha Express on condition of anonymity revealed that in the Eastern Cape they have been owed money since last season. “Due to this payment delay, as teams we still owe service providers the transport money from last season, so we can’t risk continuing again as if things are normal,” one anonymous source said.
The teams alleged that they were not even paid the prize money and referee subsidies for the 2024 season. “In the meeting, we had with SAFA earlier this year, we were promised to be paid by the end of March 2025, but up to this date no payment has been made.”
Direct Payment Request
In their letter to the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, the teams stated: “We wish to place on record that as of the date of this letter, no team has received any grant payments for the current year, and some teams are owed even for previous seasons.”
The teams rely on these funds to attend games and transport their players, many of whom live in different towns. With resources depleted, the teams have requested that “payment of full outstanding grants be made to all teams without further delays.”
Significantly, they have also requested that “grant payments be made directly to the clubs, not via SAFA,” suggesting a breakdown in trust with the football association’s payment processes.
The Sasol League teams claim that SAFA’s payment delays are damaging the image of women’s football in South Africa. While the league remains suspended, teams were seen playing friendly matches this past weekend to maintain their match fitness.
All Sasol League teams are expected to continue with their preparations for the new season while waiting to receive their outstanding monies from SAFA, though no definite timeline for payments or league resumption has been provided.
