SAFA eyes NEC reduction as part of broader reform strategy

This was revealed to SABC Sport by SAFA Finance Committee chairperson Mxolisi Sibam, following the endorsement of the turnaround strategy by the congress and the NEC. 

For an organisation struggling financially, the size of the NEC consumes a significant portion of SAFA's operational budget during meetings, including flights, accommodations, and other related costs, and Sibam says it’s time to cut it down.

"One of the proposals we're putting forward is to reduce our NEC – it's actually the biggest in the world, because the average NEC in Europe is around 10-12, and in Africa and Asia it's around 15, while South America is just below Europe," said Sibam.

"So we're sitting at 41, we are way out and this does two things – one is the costs involved, two is there's a erosion of powers or governance quality at the various levels."

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Including honorary members, the SAFA NEC comprises 48 members in total, and as far back as 2013, FIFA had advised SAFA to reduce their NEC to around 16-18 members, but that advice was not heeded and they instead increased from 34 to 47 in 2022. 

Sibam, who is also president of SAFA Buffalo City, believes a reduced NEC will improve the quality of leadership and decision-making at SAFA.

"So we've got this big NEC, so it means the quality of what we're producing may not be the best, and we're also taking the quality of leadership at the various LFAs and elevating them to national, so it leaves a vacuum of equality," he added.

"The other thing happening in South Africa that's very unique – you have one leader being a leader in various spheres, like I'm a regional president, I also lead in the province, and I'm also in the NEC.

"So we have to deal with those things to ensure we align our model for governance to the rest of the world, and one we do that, if we drop the NEC numbers to 21, with the PSL having four [members], we add another one for former professional players.

"We must remember former professional players is a PSL baby, it's not our baby, and PSL are the ones who'll decide who they bring [as NEC members], it's not for us to decide.

"So if we can sort those things out, I think we'll be on our way to make sure we rebuild football in South Africa."