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Central News Issue 008 | Download the latest weekly edition| Top Story : “Zunaid Moti accuses Amabhungane of a smear campaign”

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FREE STATE | NORTH WEST | GAUTENG

FRIDAY

09 JUNE 2023 | WEEKLY

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NEWS

Joburg Mayor,

Kabelo Gwamanada

is receiving medical

attention

Due to illness, Johannesburg mayor Kabelo

Gwamanda was unable to attend Wednesday’s

council meeting to respond to the state of the

city debate.

NEWS

Metro FM’s Lesiba

Marokana passes

away

The SABC’s Metro FM has confirmed that the

popular Music compiler Lesiba Marokana has

passed away.

At this time, no information is available regarding

the specifics of his cause of death.

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Zunaid Moti

accuses

Amabhungane

of a smear

campaign

Zunaid Moti, owner of the Moti

Group, has said that Amabhungane

has been spreading false

information about him and the

company.

STORY PAGE 2

Go beyond the headlines

Also available online at www.centralnews.co.za

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admin@centralnews.co.za

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02 News | 09 JUNE 2023

Zunaid Moti accuses Amabhungane

of a smear campaign

Zunaid Moti, owner of the Moti

Group, has said that Amabhungane

has been spreading false

information about him and the company.

Amabhungane currently possesses the

documents that Clinton van Niekerk, a

former employee, allegedly stole from the

company.

Zunaid said Clinton van Niekerk, stole

over 4,000 private and confidential

documents from the Group. “He then

shared these stolen documents with third

parties and media in an attempt to tarnish

the Group’s reputation.”

Zunaid says AmaBhungane has then used

these documents as the basis on a series of

sensational and seriously flawed articles

about myself and the Group – despite

being warned by myself, Paul O’Sullivan

and the Moti Group that these documents

had been stolen and potentially altered.

“Moti Group and myself have been

the target of a smear campaign by

amaBhungane journalists, who have

published false, one-sided narratives, and

shared private information like banking

details as if this is somehow in the public’s

interest” said Zunaid Moti.

The Moti Group recently obtained an

interim interdict prohibiting amaBhungane

from publishing any articles based on the

leaked internal documents .

As per Amabhungane, the leaked internal

documents highlights the cozy connection

between Zunaid Moti and high-positioning

government officials in Zimbabwe.

According to the documents, Moti has

allegedly tried to take over parts of

Zimbabwe’s struggling state, engaged

in questionable multimillion-dollar

transactions, and actively sought to gain

political influence.

Moti Group CEO Dondo Mogajane said

the court application was necessitated

by the fact that amaBhungane have

steadfastly refused to provide the Moti

Group the right to view the documents

that they are basing their articles on.

“The Group has reason to believe that

Clinton Van Niekerk significantly

altered the documents he provided to

amaBhungane, and could not answer

its journalists’ questions fully without

understanding the exact alterations that

had been made. Again, these reasonable

requests have been repeatedly denied.”

“However, we stand by our right to

retrieve our property and not be harassed

by the media. The South African

Constitution offers all members of society

protection against theft and crime, and

amaBhungane’s rights are not more

important than any other citizen’s.”

MEC Meeko announces plans to construct a

solar power plant to prevent load shedding

The Free State Economic, Small

Business Development, Tourism and

Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) MEC

Thabo Meeko announced on Friday plans

by Government to attract both foreign

and local investors to invest and build

a solar PV plant in Xhariep, Kopanong

Local Municipality, to address the energy

emergencies and give a full phase of

planned power outage security.

MEC Meeko spoke to Kopanong Local

Municipality Small and Medium-

Sized Enterprises (SMMEs) and other

stakeholders at the packed Jaggerforntein

Library Hall on Friday..

Meeko said that negotiations between

the provincial government and potential

investors are at an advanced stage to

encourage them to partner with the Free

State government to address the country’s

electricity problems.

MEC Meeko also stated that the

establishment of an agroprocessing

project in Jaggersfontein is also a part of

the negotiations.

Due to its abundance of land and sunlight,

Kopanong LM is an excellent location for

such projects.

MEC Meeko stated, “ We believe that

these investments will significantly open

up economic and business opportunities

for the SMMES in the area.

Additionally, it will alleviate poverty,

create much-needed jobs, and address

a variety of social issues in Kopanong

Local Municipality.

DESTEA and Kopanong Nearby Region

will, at the appropriate time, sign the

Reminder of Understanding to animate

monetary turn of events.

MEC Meeko stated, “The MoU also

seeks to create mutual understanding on

how we recalibrate the tourism sector in

Kopanong Municipality, together with the

municipality.”

He stated that tourist attractions like the

Xhariep Dam, one of the country’s largest

dams, required support.

He said there is a need to teach

individuals, including students, on open

doors around the reusing economy.

He acknowledged that the province’s

economic difficulties stem from poverty,

a high rate of unemployment, a low

level of revenue generation, a lack of

economic activity, and a low purchasing

power.

A follow-up meeting will be held on

June 7, 2023, the following week.

Free State highdensity

operations

resulted in arrests

According to the South African Police

Service (SAPS), high-density operations

are still taking place throughout the Free

State, and more than 750 suspects have

been apprehended in just one week.

As per the SAPS, the multi-disciplinary

methodology activity from 28 May to

4 June 2023, zeroed in on violations

like ownership of unlawful guns, where

three suspects were captured, while two

were kept for ownership of ammo.

In addition, 67 people were apprehended

by police for having dangerous

weapons, 52 for dealing drugs, and two

for havin gold-bearing materials in their

possession.

In the meantime, 167 people were

taken into custody for assaults, 52 for

driving while intoxicated, 30 for causing

mal cious damage to property, 20 for

burglaries, 9 for attempted murder, 7 for

murder, 5 for armed robbery, and 1 for

rape.

“Police arrested 122 suspects for

contravening the Immigration Act,” the

statement read.

The SAPS said detectives arrested 130

suspects during the tracing operation, of

which more than 80 others were detained

for crimes such as contraventions of the

Road Traffic Act.

They also confiscated 41.8 kilograms of

copper, 13 rounds of ammunition and

drugs such as dagga, cocaine, crystal

meth, heroin, nyaope and mandrax.

“Two vehicles used in the commission

of a crime were also confiscated by the

police.

“These operations are ongoing, and they

are done throughout the province in an

attempt to get rid of criminal elements

in our communities.”

IEC warns public of

fake job adverts

The Electoral Commission of South

Africa (IEC) has warned members of

the public and citizens about fraudsters

using online job advertisement websites

in the name of the organisation to obtain

personal information from unsuspecting

job seekers.

The Commission has noted various

advertisements doing the rounds on

WhatsApp and other social media

platforms.

Some advertisements claim that the

Electoral Commission is recruiting for the

forthcoming 2024 National and Provincial

Elections, and ask interested persons to

provide their personal information. Other

fake advertisements purport to advertise

the Electoral Commission’s recruitment

portal.

“Scammers are using fake job postings to

take advantage of unsuspecting applicants.

No sooner have we had one site shut down,

and then we receive reports of others.

“I wish to stress that the Electoral

Commission only advertises its job

opportunities on its official social media

channels – Facebook, LinkedIn and

Twitter, and on its recruitment portal on

the official website – www.elections.org.

za.


09 JUNE 2023 |

After becoming ill in council, Joburg Mayor

The Midvaal Local Municipality,

MMC for Development & Planning,

Cllr. Mokete Motsamai will host the

Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises

(SMMEs) Open Day on Friday. The

municipality has invited all SMMEs.

“The Open Day is intended to be an

Information sharing session where

all relevant stakeholders that have

developmental support for SMMEs

can participate and be accessible to

SMMEs inquiries.” said Municipality in

a statement.

The objectives of the SMMEs Open

Due to illness, Johannesburg mayor

Kabelo Gwamanda was unable

to attend Wednesday’s council

meeting to respond to the state of the city

debate.

Following a claim that he had been

ill since Tuesday, his office made the

announcement that he was receiving

medical care.

Gwamanda conveyed his inaugural State

of the City Address on Tuesday.

As per the City, he had been sick during

the delivery of the speech. Despite medical

advice to avoid it, he took the podium.

“The Executive Mayor has been unwell

since yesterday morning however, given

the significance and importance of the day

to Council and the residents of the City, he

unfortunately went against medical advice

and attended the State of the City Address

as delivered,” said the City in a Statement.

Midvaal to host SMME Open Day

Day are to:

• Link SMMEs with available

opportunities that exist in government

and private partners.

• Bring government business support

services and other relevant

stakeholders closer to SMMEs

(Provide-access to information).

The details are as follows:

Date: 09th June 2023

Time: 09h00 – 13h00

Venue: Sicelo Community Hall, GPS

Coordinates: -26.553294, 27.9863

The mayor was seen by his medical team

immediately after the address yesterday.

His condition deteriorated and the advice

of the medical team on stand by to attend

to him has been that he be excused

immediately and presents himself to a

medical facility for urgent treatment and

observation.

Meanwhile, ActionSA has filed a motion

of no confidence proposing to remove Al

Jam-ah Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda. The

party demands that Gwamanda respond

to allegations of corruption that he has

been accused of defrauding vulnerable

individuals through a funeral scheme.

Action SA’s Johannesburg Caucus

Leader, Funzi Ngobeni said the party put

out a public call on Monday to the Mayor

that he needs to use his State of the City

Address to come clean on this serious

allegations.

Ventersburg Police Appeal for

help finding Moitheri Michael

Thebehae

The police in Ventersburg are requesting

assistance in tracing Moitheri Michael

Thebehae, who is currently missing,

was last seen by his mother on March 1,

2023, in Ventersburg.

He was dressed in navy blue pants and

a white t-shirt. As per witnesses, he was

News 03

Kabelo Gwamanda is receiving medical attention

“It is evident from his State of the City

Address yesterday that Gwamanda did

not take this demand seriously and this

is why ActionSA has filed a motion of no

confidence to remove him from office.”

“This follows from a Carte Blanche

expose which revealed that Gwamanda

is alleged to have defrauded vulnerable

people through a funeral scheme as well

as serious questions about his claims of

academic qualifications.”

“Since the expose by Carte Blanche,

Gwamanda has not taken the council or

the residents of Johannesburg into his

confidence to provide any assurance about

these serious allegations of wrongdoing.

Instead, the matter has been treated as

an internal matter and coalition partners

have helped shield Gwamanda from

unscripted engagements with the media.”

said Ngobeni.

MISSING PERSON ALERT

seen in Sasolburg. A missing people document

has been enrolled for additional

examination.

Anybody with information about the

whereabouts of the missing individual

might contact Detective Commander,

Warrant Officer Sechaba Mothega of

Ventersburg Detective Services on 082

466 8152 or Crime Stop number 08600

10111


04 News | 09 JUNE 2023

Mzwanele Manyi and 3 others sworn-in

as EFF members of Parliament

Mzwanele Manyi, a former member of

the African Transformation Movement

(ATM) and current spokesperson for

the Jacob Zuma Foundation, was finally

sworn-in as an EFF Member of Parliament

on Wednesday.

Manyi was confirmed along with Ngobile

Mhlongo, Mandla Shikwambana, and

Eugene Mthethwa. The ceremony

was Facilitated by Parliament Speaker

Mapisa-Nqakula Mhlongo has previously

been involved in various leadership

roles in the EFF’s lower structures. She

was a convener of the EFF Branch at

the University of Pretoria in 2013, was

elected to the Branch Command Team

of Ward 81 in 2014 and served as branch

secretary of Ward 3 in 2017 in Tshwane.

Subsequently, she was elected as the

Regional Secretary, a position she held

between 2018 and 2021. Mhlongo was

co-opted into the CCT in February 2023.

Notably, she served as an EFF PR

Councillor in the City of Tshwane

Municipal Council from 2016 to 2017,

and again from 2021 until her nomination

to serve in the National Assembly. She

holds a Bachelor of Education from the

University of Pretoria.

Shikwambana is a former President

of the Economic Freedom Fighters

Student Command (EFFS), elected at

the 3rd National Students Assembly. He

has assumed various leadership roles

including secretary of the Branch Students

Command Team (BSCT) at the University

of Venda, Student Representatives Council

(SC) President, Provincial Chairperson

of the EFFSC in Limpopo Province, and

was later elected to the Branch Command

Team as an additional member.

Mzwanele Manyi previously held key

positions, including Director-General of

the Dept. of Labour and CEO of CIS.

Trained in Economic Geology, Many’s

diverse career has spanned roles in sectors

such as mining, ICT, banking, auto, and

FMCG with corporations like Anglo

American, IBM, Barclays bank pc, Toyota

SA, and Tiger brands.

As a senior public official, he applied

his comprehensive knowledge of

Treasury Regulations, Strategic Financial

Management, the Public Finance

Management Act (PFMA), Labour Laws,

and BBBEE policies. His leadership

further extended to various boards such

as Fosad, Peoples bank, Computershare,

and Alexor Diamond Mine. Many serves

as a spokesperson for a former President’s

Foundation.

Eugene Mthethwa is a seasoned cultural

activist and industry expert in the South

African recording sector.

He has held a variety of leadership

roles including Chairman of AIRCO

(Association of Independent Record

Companies of South Africa), Executive

Board Member of Moshito (Music

Industry Annual Conference &

Exhibition), and Board Member of

SACCD (South African Coalition for

Cultural Diversity - a UNESCO affiliate).

Further to these, Mthethwa has served as

a member of the SABC Music Industry

Advisory Committee, and as the Acting

Chairperson and later General Secretary

of the Creative Workers Union of South

Africa (CWUSA).

The EFF said it confident that both

Commissars and Fighters will bring

quality to its parliamentary work and

aid in the advancement of the agenda of

economic freedom.


09 JUNE 2023 |

Metro FM’s Lesiba

Marokana has

passed away

News 05

Eskom responds to allegations

of top executive sabotage

The SABC’s Metro FM has confirmed

that the popular Music compiler Lesiba

Marokana has passed away.

At this time, no information is available

regarding the specifics of his

cause of death.

Marokana previously held positions as

a musi compiler at Metro FM, YFM,

and 5FM. He shared his knowledge

with those around him and was wellknown

in the music industry.

“It is with great sadness that we

announce the death of our beloved colleague

and friend, Lesiba Marokana,

who passed away yesterday. Our

thoughts and prayers are with his family,

friends and colleagues,” reads the

statement.

Eskom, the state-owned power

company, claims that it will

continue to eradicate fraud and

corruption.

This comes after a report from City Press

said over the weekend that police are

planning to arrest a senior executive at

Eskom on charges that he is involved in

sabotage efforts targeting power stations

to cause breakdowns.

“Eskom takes these sabotage allegations

seriously and will allow the law to take

its course. Eskom is committed to rooting

out fraud, corruption and sabotage within

its ranks and will fully cooperate with law

enforcement to ensure the most effective

and coordinated responses to any crime

related to Eskom’s operations,” the power

utility said on Tuesday.

Turning to the report itself, Eskom said it

was “never approached by City Press to

comment on any of its executives allegedly

implicated in sabotage incidents”.

“However, we can confirm that City Press

did approach Eskom on some allegations

related to the awarding of a security

contract, the involvement of an executive

with a fuel supplier and on the statement

made by the Minister of Police during his

appearance at the Standing Committee on

Public Accounts (Scopa).

“Eskom responded to questions from

City Press in writing on 20 May 2023

to the best of its ability and knowledge.

We, however, noted that City Press used

Eskom’s response of 20 May 2023 as a

comment to the alleged sabotage. It would

have been prudent for City Press to seek a

comment from Eskom on the allegations

they published yesterday. We would like

to confirm that Eskom is amenable to

respond to any questions on these serious

allegations,” the power utility said.


06 Classifieds | 09 JUNE 2023

cnclassifieds

Dukwana to undergo medical procedure,

names Makume Acting Premier

The Free State MEC for COGTA and

Human Settlements Moses Ketso

Makume has been appointed interim

Premier by Free State Premier Mxolisi

Dukwana from May 31 to June 18, 2023,

while the Premier takes a leave of absence

to undergo a medical procedure.

“MEC Makume will, as Acting Premier

during this period, be responsible for the

performance of the duties of the Premier

and the concomitant delegated powers

attached to the said post“, said Sello

Dithebe in a Statement

The Executive Council (EXCO), has

wished Premier Dukwana well as he

undergoes a medical procedure.

Dithebe said Exco has confidence in

the capabilities of MEC Makume, who

is by no means a novice to matters of

governance, to steer the ship competently,

in the weeks ahead.

“In effect, all programmes of government

in the Free State, remain on course”


09 JUNE 2023

Opinion 07

opinion

South Africa will host the BRICS summit

in August 2023. The event could offer

the country an opportunity to exercise

leadership in the BRICS’ efforts to

reform the arrangements for global

economic governance and in supporting

sustainable and inclusive development in

Africa and the Global South. However,

the opportunity has morphed into an

international challenge because Russia’s

President Vladimir Putin, who has been

indicted by the International Criminal

Court, has indicated that he will attend.

South Africa could face the wrath of its

BRICS partners if it fulfils its international

obligation and arrests him. On the other

hand, if it does not arrest him, it could

face sanctions from those countries that

want to see Putin tried for war crimes.

Hosting the 2023 BRICS summit is

therefore fraught with dangers. The

international environment is complicated,

dynamic and unpredictable. South Africa

can avoid embarrassment and capitalise on

the opportunities presented by the summit

only if it is able to skilfully manoeuvre in

these choppy waters.

Trying to understand South Africa’s

dilemma raises a number of questions:

Who are the BRICS? What has the

grouping achieved?

Who are the BRICS?

In 2001, the global investment bank

Goldman Sachs stated that it expected

Brazil, Russia, India and China to become

leading actors in the global economy. It

collectively named the four countries

“BRICs”.

These countries decided that Goldman

Sachs had a point and that they could

enhance their global influence if they

cooperated. They first met at a ministerial

level in 2006 and at a leaders’ summit in

2009. In 2010 they invited South Africa to

join the group. The group became known

as “BRICS”.

A primary objective of the group is to

reform global economic governance so

that it is more responsive to the concerns

and interests of the Global South. For

example, the BRICS have called for a

new global currency that can challenge

the dominant role of the US dollar in the

international monetary system. It has also

pushed for a greater voice – and more

votes – for developing countries in key

international economic organisations like

the IMF and the World Bank.

The group has also sought, through

groups like its business forum, to promote

greater economic cooperation between

the participating countries.

What has the BRICS grouping

achieved?

The BRICS record of achievements is

mixed.

In 2016, the group established two new

international economic entities.

The first was the New Development

Bank. They contend that it is a “new”

multilateral development bank which

offers its members an alternative to

institutions like the World Bank. It claims

that its governance is fairer than the World

Bank because its five original members

all have equal votes. At the World Bank,

shares (and therefore votes) are unevenly

distributed among member states.

The development bank also strives to

provide financing more quickly than the

World Bank, and in a way that is more

respectful of the laws in its member states.

However, to date, the New Development

Bank has been less transparent and

accountable than other multilateral

development banks.

It has provided US$32.8 billion to 96

projects in the 5 BRICS countries and it

has begun looking to expand the scope of

its operations.

Since 2021 it has approved membership

for Bangladesh, Egypt, United Arab

Emirates and Uruguay. It is expected to

add new members in the coming years.

The second new entity was the Contingent

Reserve Arrangement. This established a

series of swap arrangements between the

BRICS central banks. These arrangements

allow each central bank, when its country

is facing a balance of payments crisis,

to exchange its local currency for hard

currencies, like the US dollar, with its

counterparts in the BRICS.

Pursuant to the terms of the arrangement,

a central bank can only draw on a fraction

of the available financing without

also having to enter into a financing

arrangement with the IMF. Thus, the

conditions that are attached to the IMF’s

finances also become applicable to

the funds made available through the

Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

To date, no BRICS central bank has used

the arrangement.

According to their communiques, the

BRICS leaders have agreed to create

other entities, such as a vaccine centre

and a new credit rating agency. However,

they have not yet implemented these

agreements.

They have not been successful either

in reforming the existing institutions

and arrangements for global economic

governance, such as the IMF. One reason

for this failure is the strong opposition

to reform from states, primarily those in

Europe, which currently have dominant

voices in the IMF and would lose them in

the case of true reform.

But another important reason is that the

BRICS are not unified in their demands

for reform. For example, while Brazil,

India and South Africa support reforming

the UN Security Council to include more

permanent members and to eliminate the

veto power of the existing permanent

members, China and Russia, as sitting

permanent members, don’t.

Similarly, not all the other BRICS have

supported South Africa’s call for a third

African seat on the IMF’s board of

directors.

Are there any downsides to BRICS

membership?

The global political and economic

situation has changed dramatically since

2010. These changes have created both

opportunities and challenges for the

BRICS.

One opportunity arises from the fact

that approximately 19 countries in the

Global South, including Argentina, Cuba,

Iran and Saudi Arabia, have expressed

an interest in joining the BRICS. It is

expected that the BRICS will consider the

issue of membership at their upcoming

August 2023 summit.

Another opportunity arises from the

growing interest around the world in

having an alternative currency to the US

dollar as the basis for the international

financial system. The BRICS have been

vocal supporters of de-dollarisation.

However, given the complex economic

and political relations between the BRICS

member states, there is considerable

scepticism about the feasibility of the

BRICS developing a new global currency

in the near term.

The primary challenges facing the

BRICS arise from geopolitics. The war

in Ukraine has created tensions within

the BRICS. The participating states have

been forced to balance their respect for

such international law principles as selfdetermination,

sovereignty and peaceful

resolution of disputes with their friendly

relations with Russia. In addition, the

BRICS cannot escape the fallout from

the growing economic and security

tensions between China and the west,

By; Danny Bradlow (UNISA)

South Africa’s role as host of the BRICS summit is fraught with dangers

A guide to who is in the group, and why it exists

particularly the US.

Both these issues complicate the

efforts of the other BRICS to maintain

their formal non-aligned position.

They also exacerbate existing tensions

within the BRICS. The most important

example of this is the complex and

tense relationship between India and

China. In recent years, they have had

military skirmishes in disputed border

areas. In addition, India has imposed

economic constraints on Chinese

companies operating in India. The two

countries have refused to renew the

visas of journalists from each country

so that now there are almost no

journalists from Chinese publications

in India and vice versa.

What hangs on the summit?

South Africa faces another opportunity

that is fraught with danger when it hosts

the G20 in 2025. The G20, which brings

together the 20 leading economic powers

in the world, has called itself the “premier

forum” for global economic governance.

South Africa is currently the only

permanent African member of the G20

and 2025 will be the first time the group is

hosted by an African country.

Planning for this G20 event must begin

soon because in 2024 South Africa will

join India, the current G20 host, and

Brazil, the 2024 G20 host in the troika that

manages the G20 process. If the country

does not plan carefully and effectively

for this G20 event, South Africa risks

emerging with a diminished reputation

and its credibility shredded.


08 Sports | 09 JUNE 2023

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Banyana to face Costa Rica in international friendly ahead of World Cup

Banyana Banyana will face

Costa Rica in an international

friendly match to be played in

Nga Puna Wai Sport Complex

in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15 July

2023.

The match will form part of coach Desiree

Ellis’ preparations for the FIFA Women’s

World Cup to be held in Australia and

New Zealand from 20 July – 20 August

2023.

Ellis said she was happy to be facing a

side that has qualified for the World Cup,

a team she expects will give her Sasolsponsored

charges a stern test before the

tournament gets underway.

“I am really excited to be playing against

Costa Rica,” the Banyana Banyana coach

told www.safa.net. “This will be our last

match before the World Cup starts.

They qualified through a tough campaign

in the Confederation of North, Central

America and Caribbean Association

Football (CONCACAF) World Cup

qualifiers. So another World Cup-bound

team, we’re really looking forward to the

match and to be able to just finally, you

know, cross our t’s and dot our i’s just

before the World Cup starts.”

Banyana Banyana were drawn against

Sweden, Italy and Argentina in the World

Cup and SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao

said the Costa Ricans will be ideal

preparation for what the South African

senior women’s national team can expect

in Group G.

“The friendly match against Costa Rica is

crucial in our preparations for this FIFA

Women’s World Cup,” the SAFA CEO

said.

“We are aiming higher in this tournament,

and the rehearsal against Costa Rica

will give us an idea on one of our group

opponents, Argentina.”

Coach Ellis’ charges, who won women’s

football’s biggest prize on the continent

after they beat Morocco in the WAFCON

final in 2022, will be appearing in the

global event for the second time in a row

following their debut in France in 2019.

“We wish the Banyana Banyana team

the best of luck on their friendly match

Dr. Danny Jordaan, president

of the South African Football

Association (SAFA), and Lydia

Monyepao, CEO, met with Minister of

Sport, Arts, and Culture Zizi Kodwa on

Monday (5 June 2023) to discuss South

Africa’s interest in hosting the FIFA

Women’s World Cup in 2027.

Minister Kodwa was pleased with

SAFA’s progress and appreciated Dr.

Jordaan’s and CEO Monyepao’s updates.

SAFA is presently leaving on a period

of connecting with the commonplace

legislatures, the urban communities and

the arenas as the work around the bid

proceeds.

“We are very happy with the progress that

has been made,” said Dr Jordaan.

“Our government has been very

supportive of women’s sport as we have

seen with various codes, including the

eighth edition of the ICC Women’s T20

World Cup that was held in South Africa

from 10-26 February 2023 and the

Netball World Cup to be hosted in Cape

Town from 28 July – 6 August 2023 at the

International Convention Centre.

“SAFA believes that hosting the 2027

FIFA Women’s World Cup will accelerate

the professionalisation of women’s

football on the continent.”

against Costa Rica, which we believe will

give our team good practice just before

they compete on the world stage. We also

call on all South Africans to continue to

send their messages of support to Banyana

Banyana via WhatsApp at 072 603 7325

or USSD by dialling *120*676#.

Let us all remember that as South

Africans, our support will give the team

all the energy they require to push hard at

all their upcoming matches, including this

friendly match. And to Banyana Banyana,

go live the impossible in Australia and

New Zealand! Sasol is behind you all the

way,” said Nozipho Mbatha, Sasol Senior

Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorship.

A significant boost is given to SA’s

2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid

Minister Kodwa was happy with the

update from SAFA and said he would

invite the Association to make a

presentation to a meeting of Government

Ministers and MECs (MINMEC) to be

held in Bloemfontein on Thursday and

Friday (8 and 9 June 2023).

“I am very pleased with this update from

SAFA, and the details around the progress

and the work that has been achieved to

date,” Minister Kodwa said.

Dr Jordaan recently returned from a

meeting with the Confederation of

African Football’s headquarters (CAF)

in Cairo, Egypt, where he briefed the

continental governing body on South

Africa’s intention to bid for the FIFA

Women’s World Cup in 2027.

The SAFA President also briefed CAF on

plans to create a women’s professional

league in South Africa and why the FIFA

Women’s World Cup is crucial to the

project.

The Council of Southern Africa Football

Associations (COSAFA) endorsed

South Africa’s Bid to host the 2027 FIFA

Women’s World Cup last month (26 May

2023) and SAFA will engage all the other

regions on the continent and inform them

about the country’s intention to bid for the

FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027.

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