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Safa ‘has received funding’ from government to implement VAR

Sowetan · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 310 words · By Mahlatse Mphahlele
Sports Governance Technological Modernization in Football Government Funding
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What to know about Sports Governance

After numerous empty commitments, South African Football Association (Safa) finance committee chair Mxolisi Sibam has confirmed the body has received the R20m in funding from the government to implement video assistant referee (VAR).

Claims checked 6
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left12%
Center76%
Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

After numerous empty commitments, South African Football Association (Safa) finance committee chair Mxolisi Sibam has confirmed the body has received the R20m in funding from the government to implement video assistant referee (VAR).

Why it matters

And the association says it is targeting the beginning of next season to roll out the technology that is long overdue in the Betway Premiership to assist referees who have been criticised for incorrect decisions.

Common ground

“The government has been generous with us, they have given us R20m to implement VAR,” said Sibam in a press conference that followed Safa’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the weekend.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.sowetan.co.za/sport/2026-05-12-safa-has-received-funding-from-govern…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 6 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “We also have the Super League for women football and our national finals.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the claim appears in the text of one web search result quoting Sibam, the other search results for 'Super League' returned irrelevant results (movies, etc.), meaning only one specific news source corroborates this detail.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Super received mixed reviews from critics, who debated the moral ambiguity, violence and messages, but still received praise for the acting, tone, writing and humor.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_(2010_American_film)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Super.com helps you save on hotels, get cash advances, and make extra money! Upgrade to Super+ and put even more money in your pocket!
https://www.super.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of SUPER is of high grade or quality. How to use super in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/super
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Claim 2: “South African Football Association (Safa) finance committee chair Mxolisi Sibam has confirmed the body has received the R20m in funding from the government to implement video assistant referee (VAR).”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources (Mihlali Baleka/Google News, iDiski Times, and SA People) confirm that SAFA finance committee chair Mxolisi Sibam stated the body received R20 million in government funding for VAR.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South African Football Association (SAFA) is the national administrative governing body that controls the sport of football in the South Africa and is a member of the Confederation of African Foot…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Football_Associa…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Football, or soccer, as it is usually called in South Africa, is the nation's most popular sport followed by rugby union and cricket. The governing body is the South African Football Association (SAFA…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_in_South_Africa
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South Africa national soccer team represents South Africa in men's international football and is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. Nic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_national_soccer_t…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 3: “the association says it is targeting the beginning of next season to roll out the technology that is long overdue in the Betway Premiership”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources report the target for implementation is the next season, with Gayton McKenzie and Mxolisi Sibam both referencing the upcoming season for the PSL/Betway Premiership.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The call for VAR in the Betway Premiership has intensified after a number of high-profile blunders. Early last season, Kaizer Chiefs felt they were robbed during a league encounter againt Mamelodi Sun…
https://themercury.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/2025-06-08-gayton-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sibam further confirmed that SAFA has received R20 million from the Sports Ministry to fund this VAR implementation. He said the process to get this refereeing tool up and running started seven months…
https://www.sapeople.com/sport/safa-confirms-plans-to-implem…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — body is ahead of the defender, how will you see that with a naked eye?” McKenzie further stated that his department has paid SAFA the necessary funds to implement VAR in the Premier Soccer League from…
https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/betway-premiership/mckenzie-we…
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Claim 4: “Work has been going on for the past seven months”
CORROBORATED
Multiple reports cite Sibam stating that the process to get the tool running started seven months ago.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — They have funded… they have given us R20 million to implement VAR,” said Sibam as per SABC Sport. “And we are in the process, at this current NEC meeting that is going on now, we are going to finalise…
https://www.sapeople.com/sport/safa-confirms-plans-to-implem…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — VAR has already drawn fierce criticism from fans, pundits and the media alike for its inconsistent usage, confusing laws and the time it takes for a decision to be reached.
https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/03/02/la-liga-set-var-technol…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrCkmC8rohA
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Claim 5: “Safa will work closely with the PSL to establish VAR.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm Sibam's statement that SAFA will work closely with the PSL as they are the primary end user.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Soccer.Sibam said Safa will work closely with the PSL to establish VAR. “There will be contact with the PSL because they will be the end user, but it is not only them who will be the end user. We also…
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2026-05-11-safa-has…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — View the final Premier Soccer League 2025/2026 table, team form data and points tallies with GOAL.
https://www.goal.com/en-za/premier-soccer-league/table/yv73m…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — South Africa Premier Soccer League. FIFA World Cup.Belgian Cup. Europe. Premier League. Ligue 1. Primeira Liga.
https://www.camellive.top/r/competitions
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Claim 6: “Money is in the bank and I want to confirm that it is in a separate account that doesn’t include all the other transactions of Safa”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results explicitly quote Mxolisi Sibam stating the money is in the bank and held in a separate account from other SAFA transactions.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Safa has confirmed the receipt of R20 million from the Department of Sport to finally bring VAR to South Africa.The money is in the bank,” Sibam said. “I also want to state that it is in a separate ba…
https://thestar.co.za/sport/soccer/bafana/2026-05-10-safa-co…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The R80-million project wasn’t rushed. McKenzie revealed that the department and SAFA conducted extensive international benchmarking, engaging with La Liga President Javier Tebas in Spain and Premier …
https://www.panafricafootball.com/post/var-funding-has-been-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie told Parliament that government is still finalising the process of funding VAR, raising doubts about whether the technology will be ready in time for the upcoming PSL s…
https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/2025-07-16-where-is-var-g…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.