GROUNDED BEFORE KICKOFF Danny Jordaan’s SAFA Stole Bafana’s World Cup Prep. The Country Will Pay in Mexico.

How One Visa Blunder Exposes 3 Decades of SAFA Rot_

SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan under pressure as he addresses media over the visa blunder that grounded Bafana Bafana’s World Cup preparations. Under his leadership, there’s always some stuff. This time, SAFA forgot the plane.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.  

AZANIAFROCOMEDIA – The Catalyst of Impact

Bafana Bafana’s departure for a 2026 Fifa World Cup training camp in Mexico was delayed on Sunday, 31 May 2026, after visa processing issues grounded members of the squad at OR Tambo International Airport.

At least 20 members of the travelling party, the majority players, were unable to board a charter flight to Mexico City. They remained at the United States Embassy in Johannesburg while U.S. transit visa applications were processed.

The team was scheduled to continue to Pachuca for altitude training before South Africa’s opening match against hosts Mexico on 11 June 2026 at Estadio Azteca.

The South African Football Association confirmed the delay. In a statement released on 31 May, SAFA said: “The South African senior men’s national team has experienced challenges regarding visas for some players and officials. As a result, the group could not travel to North America this morning as originally planned.”

SAFA said it was “working around the clock” to secure travel and that the team would continue training in Johannesburg until departure.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said on 1 June that a charter flight carrying “all players” would depart for Mexico on 1 June. McKenzie stated that some members of the technical team were still outstanding, including the assistant coach, team doctor, head of security and one analyst.

Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe criticised SAFA’s administration. “Heads must definitely roll. It’s an administrative issue. If junior officials are not accounting to you as seniors, then it shows that there is no leadership. The centre is not holding… Are they friends with their juniors? We want accountability. If it means people must be fired, especially those responsible for this, let it be,” Mabe said.

The incident follows another administrative error in the current World Cup cycle. In 2025, Fifa deducted three points from South Africa after Bafana fielded suspended midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a qualifier.

SAFA is led by President Danny Jordaan as it manages Bafana Bafana’s preparations for the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The team remains in Johannesburg pending completion of visa processing.