South Africa’s 2023 Women’s World Cup squad will travel to New Zealand on Wednesday after a gender pay gap dispute with the national association was resolved.
The Motsepe Foundation, founded by Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and billionaire, and his wife, Precious Motsepe, pledged money to resolve the dispute.
Members of the World Cup squad said their contracts did not include the $30,000 (about R561,475.50) appearance fee that FIFA promised each of the 23 players.
The tussle has caused an uproar in South African football over gender pay gaps.
During a media conference in Johannesburg, Precious said that gender pay gaps are talked about, but nothing is ever done about it.
“Each of us must do our part to ensure that gender equality becomes a reality,” she said.
Precious encouraged the group to continue to “talk” about gender inequalities.
Each player will receive a bonus of R230 000 in addition to the FIFA fee, the South African Football Players Union announced during the conference.
“We must be able to proudly state our case that we must earn the same as the players of Bafana Bafana (South Africa’s national men’s soccer team) earn and what the Springboks earn,” said Zizi Kodwa, Minister of Sports, at the same conference.
Australia and New Zealand will host the World Cup from 20 July. Along with South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria and Zambia will also represent the continent.
Banyana Banyana, South Africa’s national women’s soccer team, refused to play a World Cup warm-up match against Botswana on Sunday.
