Tebogo Motlanthe quits SAFA amid leadership concerns

The respected legal expert is understood to have been quietly serving his notice after resigning for a second time, allegedly for similar reasons that led to his first departure – concerns about the direction the mother body has taken under its current leadership.

Motlanthe first quit in May 2023, penning a now-infamous resignation letter in which he stated that he could no longer serve from a position of no power, describing himself as having been reduced to “a glorified clerk.”

However, after months of internal lobbying, he made a dramatic return in August last year, this time as Chief Operations Officer, while also continuing to assist SAFA in a consulting capacity.

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In recent months, Motlanthe had been working within SAFA’s legal office, where he was instrumental in ensuring the smooth handling of disputes involving ABC Motsepe League clubs and Premier Soccer League arbitration cases.

His latest exit is expected to leave a significant gap in the federation’s legal and administrative operations, potentially causing delays in resolving disputes.

Motlanthe’s departure follows that of SAFA Technical Director Walter Steenbok, who recently resigned, citing a lack of institutional support for his development programmes.

It remains unclear where Motlanthe will surface next, but given his legal expertise and experience stabilising football administration, he is unlikely to remain unattached for long.

He has previously been linked to positions at both the PSL and COSAFA.

Motlanthe could not be reached for comment.