Southern African News

• Politics

Writing the Struggle – A Pan-

Africanism According to Jomo 

Kenyatta II

5th August 2013

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This is the second and last part of a fable told by the late Kenyan founding president, Jomo Kenyatta, when he explained what Pan-Africanism should be and must be. Kenyatta was one of the founding figures of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) the predecessor to the African Union.

In the first part of the fable, Kenyatta talked about the friendship between elephant and man and how the former took over the latter’s hut after being allowed to shelter his trunk.
Lion, being the king of the jungle, intervened by putting together a commission to resolve the issue between elephant and man.
The commission was headed by elephant that called friends whom he knew would stand by him.
Elephant gave evidence first and was, as expected believed by his friends even before the man was called in.
When the man was giving his evidence, the animals on the commission interjected asking him to stick to relevant issues.
“My good man, please confine yourself to relevant issues. We have already heard the circumstances from various unbiased sources.
“All we wish you to tell us is whether the undeveloped space in your hut was occupied by anyone else before Mr Elephant assumed his position?”
“No, but . . .” the man tried to explain before the commission declared it had heard all the information needed.
Elephant then invited the members of the commission to his house for a meal before a verdict was reached.
“In our opinion, this dispute has arisen through a regrettable misunderstanding due to the backwardness of your ideas. We consider that Mr Elephant has fulfilled his sacred duty of protecting your interests.
“As it is clearly for your good that the space should be put to its most economic use and as you yourself have not yet reached the stage of expansion which would enable you to fill it, we consider it necessary to arrange a compromise to suit both parties.
“Mr Elephant shall continue his occupation of your hut but we give you permission to look for a site where you can build another hut more suited to your needs, and we will see that you are well protected,” the commission concluded.
Scared and unsure of what his fate would be if he argued, the man moved away and put up another structure.
A few days after finishing building the new hut, rhinoceros romped in threatening man with harm if he refused to evacuate and make space for him.
Once again, a commission was appointed and again the same verdict was arrived at: Move and make space for the invader.
This went on until all the members of the commission had huts grabbed from man.
It was at this time when the man decided to put in place protective measures so that no animal would take advantage of him.
“Ng’enda thi ndeagaga motegi (There is nothing that treads on earth that cannot be trapped),” the man declared.
He waited until all the huts taken away from him were old and collapsing before he moved a short distance away where he put up a very big structure.
Elephant invaded the hut first; then came rhinoceros followed by leopard, buffalo, lion, and fox.
When the animals found themselves occupying one hut, arguments ensued and serious fights broke out among them.
While the animals were fighting among themselves, the man set the hut on fire killing all the bullies.
“Peace is costly, but it’s worth the expense,” the man said as he enjoyed life without any threats and uncertainties.
A simple interpretation of the fable shows that the man is the African and the hut is Africa while the animals are the colonialists who invaded every corner of the continent as dictated by the 1884 Scramble for Africa, which is the commission.
Every colonialist used violence to scare, torment, exterminate, destroy and control the African who in most cases was a docile believer and follower.
It was only when Africans got tired that they declared enough is enough and fought back with everything within their reach.
In short, Kenyatta was saying that Africans should emancipate themselves; that they should stop believing in the west because none of them has the needs and the aspirations of Africa at heart apart from exploitation.
For this to happen, African unity is critical.

South African News

politics

Jacob Zuma has captured the ANC

Zuma has not just cowed our institutions of democracy but has compromised the ANC, the party of Mandela and Oliver Tambo

Justice Malala

04 April 2016

THE main question about President Jacob Zuma‘s tenure since 2009 has not been how far or how high he would take us as a nation.
It was not about how he would build on the work of former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. We knew that he would not even come close to their standards.
The main question about the Zuma presidency has been how much damage he will have inflicted on the ANC and South Africa by the time he leaves.
The farcical events that unfolded from 7pm on Friday, when he failed to take responsibility for his actions, tell us exactly how much damage Zuma has wrought, and opens up a frightening window onto just how much damage he is still capable of inflicting in the time he has left in office.
Considering that he has possibly a full three years in the Union Buildings, the damage could be huge.
Zuma will have destroyed the country and its economy by 2019, when he is forced by the constitution to step down at the end of his second term.
A man who has been found by a full bench of the Constitutional Court to have failed to uphold his oath of office is in charge of your country.
So why has the ANC not kicked him out? Friday‘s events tell us why. Zuma has not just cowed our institutions of democracy but has managed to go deep into the heart of power: He has compromised the ANC, the party of Mandela and Oliver Tambo, to ensure that he is untouchable.
He knows that, when all is said and done, only the ANC has the power to remove him from office.
A cunning political player, he has stuffed the party‘s top six leadership, the national working committee and the national executive committee with spineless cronies who are beholden to him.
When these lickspittles have to choose between the country and Zuma, between their own once glorious movement and the man from Nkandla, between the constitution of the republic and him, their choice is clear: Zuma.
That is why you had ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe saying on Friday things he did not believe. He had no choice. His party has been hijacked by the man he helped put in power.
Since he first took the oath of office, in 2009, Zuma has been doing everything in his power to bring our institutions of democracy and accountability to heel.
He started with the swift, illegal and brutal disbanding of the Scorpions crime-fighting unit and its replacement with the Hawks, a body that now investigates the likes of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and is headed by a Zuma lackey who lied under oath.
That was followed by myriad other moves to ensure that no one can hold Zuma accountable.
When his own spy chiefs warned against his relationship with the Guptas, Zuma fired them all and installed a series of spineless yes-men to the intelligence agencies and the State Security Ministry.
Despite attempts to destroy the public protector and capture the judiciary, he has largely failed to capture all the people and all the institutions.
The Constitutional Court‘s judgment on Thursday was one of the most wonderful endorsements of our constitution and democracy.
It will go down in history, together with the dignified and brave actions of Madonsela over the past five years, as one of the proudest moments of our 22-year-old democracy.
But this is precious little compared to where we could be. Zuma has sold our democracy to the Gupta family by giving them sway in cabinet appointments and state-owned enterprises.
He has destroyed the capabilities of our security agencies by appointing cronies to top jobs.
He has poisoned the political environment and is wrecking the economy.
So why is he in power? It is because his greatest coup has been to capture the ANC.
There is no doubt that, on Friday, Mantashe and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa — the chairman of the body that wrote the constitution — asked him to resign.
He probably laughed at them because he knew that he has packed all the ANC bodies that can recall him with his own cronies.
He knows that, of all the bodies that he has attempted to steal, it is the ANC that he had to lock down. He has.
Now, when the chips are down, he sleeps well at night knowing that he has three years in office to loot and wreck as he has been doing.
If Zuma does not go, by the time he leaves in 2019, the ANC will be a shadow of its former self.
South Africa will be the same.
After all, as the man has said, it is Zuma and his family first, the ANC second and the country last. That is what Friday‘s events told us in stark terms.
This article first appeared in The Times

Southern African News

• Politics

Writing the Struggle – Pan-Africanism according to Jomo Kenyatta

29th July 2013

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The late Kenyan founding president, Jomo Kenyatta who was also very instrumental in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) the predecessor to the African Union summed up what pan-Africanism is about in a fable.
He said an elephant visited a friend, a man who lived in a small hut by the edge of the forest during a heavy storm.
Once there, the elephant asked if the man could allow him to just shield his trunk from the storm.
“My dear good elephant, my hut is very small, but there is room for your trunk and myself. Please put your trunk in gently,” the man offered.
“You have done me a good deed and one day I shall return your kindness,” elephant thanked the man.
Not long after, elephant squeezed his head inside the hut and then threw the man out in the heavy storm saying, “My dear good friend, your skin is harder than mine and as there is not enough room for both of us, you can afford to remain in the rain while I am protecting my delicate skin from the hail storm.”
The ensuing commotion brought other animals to the scene to see what was happening. The lion too came roaring about the noise in his kingdom.
“Don’t you know that I am the King of the jungle? How dare anyone disturb the peace of my kingdom?”
In response elephant said, “My Lord, there is no disturbance of the peace in your kingdom. I have only been having a little discussion with my friend here as to the possession of this little hut which your lordship sees me occupying.”
“I command my ministers to appoint a Commission of Enquiry to go thoroughly in to this matter and report accordingly,” lion ordered.
And to the man, lion said, “You have done well by establishing friendship with my people, especially with the elephant who is one of my honourable ministers of state.
“Do not grumble any more. Your hut is not lost to you. Wait until the sitting of my Imperial Commission and there you will be given plenty of opportunity to state your case. I am sure that you will be pleased with the findings of the Commission.” Assured, man was happy hoping that he would get justice and retain his hut.
Elephant as the senior minister was asked to appoint the commission. He then chose his closest friends among them Mr Rhinoceros, Mr Buffalo, Mr Alligator, The Rt Hon Mr Fox to act as chairman; and Mr Leopard who was the secretary. Knowing that all these were close to elephant, man complained but was assured further that he had nothing to fear because the members of the commission were corrigible people.
On the day of the enquiry, elephant told the commission that he only acted to save man’s hut from the storms.
“Gentlemen of the jungle, there is no need for me to waste your valuable time in relating a story which I am sure you all know. I have always regarded it as my duty to protect the interests of my friends, and this appears to have caused the misunderstanding between myself and my friend here.
“He invited me to save his hut from being blown away by a hurricane. As the hurricane had gained access owing to the unoccupied space in the hut, I considered it necessary, in my friend’s own interests, to turn the undeveloped space to a more economic use by sitting in it myself; a duty which any of you would undoubtedly have performed with equal readiness in similar circumstances,” elephant said. (to be continued)

Southern African News

• Analysis

Tertiary institution should prioritise infrastructure development

8th February 2016

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> Nteboheleng Mabitso

Maseru – Southern African universities should make infrastructure development a priority if they are to offer quality tertiary education.

This statement was made by the Vice Chancellor at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) Professor Nqosa Mahao in an interview with Southern Times.

Prof Mahao said lack of infrastructure and moral seriously affects the quality of education offered by various institutions in the region.

He said NUL is the worst performing in the region as it ranges with Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland which is the lowest in terms of performance.

“Our tertiary institutions are not performing well because we do not have developed institutions, instead we sent people out of the country to study, therefore, most of the money gets eroded to neighbouring countries,” he said.

He said South Africa offers the best tertiary education in the region as it invests a lot in education but said he could not compare the tertiary institutions in the region with Europe and USA as they invest a lot in education.

In Lesotho NUL gets only R240 million which is reported to be the portion which is given to one faculty in SA universities, a faculty in the university of Witwatersrand to be specific.

Mahao said due to lack of infrastructure, studies have shown that school level performance in science in the regions out of  14, Lesotho is at 13 followed by Angola.

He said in Lesotho due to lack of infrastructure, university training is largely in Humanities.

Talking about accommodation, he said NUL has about 8000 students but only provides accomodation to 1300 and the rest are staying outside the campus where security and safety is still a challenge.

He said those students do not have access to internet and are not able to access reading materials online when they are outside school premises as some reside where there is no electricity.

On the other hand, Lecture Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Sciences at NUL Getrude Mothibe said the quality of education is measured through the services delivered to the community.

Mothibe said in NUL services different disciplines of professions such as Pharmaceutical courses at an early age.

Talking about how the education system differs compared to the one offered in United States of America and Europe, she said abroad, they offer generic knowledge but their students do not have skills to approach the community.

But for the countries in the region like Lesotho, she said they offer generic and development applications and that build on their future as in developing countries there are not many resources so Lectures versus trainers.

She said lectures work with less resources and that means there is more work as they have to be equipped with skills for some may be placed in rural areas where there are no resources.

In relation to accommodations facilities, she said SA offers the best. She said in Lesotho, it is crowded, buildings are not well maintained and students have to find accomodation not geared for learning in terms of all security and times gates close early denying them the opportunity to study.

On whether funding is enough, Mothibe said tertiary institutions are struggling because the government subvension is very low and government budget is very low and doesnt allow for expansion and that puts pressure against increasing fees.

She said that hampers tertiary educations in Lesotho.

Advocate Hoolo ‘Nyane an Independent Analyst said funding education through government is unsustainable for when fees increase, it means very few will be able to fund their education.

‘Nyane said it is important for institutions to find other sustainable ways of funding education like other institutions in the region which depends on research, and, therefore, those without cannot expect competitive outcomes.

He said high ranking universities comes from the first world come from first world which US, United United Kingdom and in Africa, SA, Cairo, Egypt, Nigeria.

He is it difficult to find high ranking universities from poor countries and its unimaginable as higher education and resources are invariable.

Deputy leader of the Basotho National Party (BNP) Chief Joang Molapo shared the same sentiments saying it is difficult to talk about tertiary institutions in SADC but said SA Witswatersrand provides the best engeeniring programs and are comparable to those studying in the US, University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, University of Kwazulu,University of Botswana to mention a few, for they are ranked among the best in the world.

He said it is best that universities are compared based on their countires economic strengths.

Chief Molapo said NUL is no longer where it used to be 15 years ago but funding has remained the same as per Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He also talked about infrastrure development as a main challenge but also pointed out that universities internationally do not depend on government funding but do researches.

Lerotholi Polytechnic as known as Fokothi Marketing Management student Lehlohonolo Choma said thier institutions are lacking behind in terms of infrastructure when compared to South Africa.

He said they have science laboratories, in terms of technology they are far from Lesotho. Choma also shared same sentiments that accomodation for students is a challenge.

Reports indicate that University of Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest university is also often rated as the continent’s best.

Wits is considered one of the top research institutions on the continent, boasting 20 South African Research Chairs, seven research institutes and 20 research units.

STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ranked as the second best university in South Africa and Africa by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings list

Rhodes University the university’s school of Journalism and Media Studies is considered to be one of the best in the country, with many top journalists graduating from there.

The university of Pretoria is considered one of the leading research universities in South Africa.

University of Cape Town is known for excelling in creative, specialist areas of study and for taking a practical, hands-on approach to teaching (particularly in areas of design).

South Africa has a vibrant higher education sector, with 23 state-funded tertiary institutions: 11 universities, six universities of technology, and six comprehensive institutions.

Namibia: Polytechnic of Namibia admission is based on grade 12 certificate with a maximum of five qualifying subjects with a total score of 25 points or more and a E symbol or better in English.

At the University of Namibia’s basic requirement for entrance to undergraduate degree programmes is a Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) with a pass in five subjects with a total score of 25 points, on the UNAM evaluation scale, or more in not more than three examination sittings.

The University of Zambia School of Medicine is Zambia’s first Medical School. Its scope of academic instructional delivery has increased over the years to include not only the MB ChB Program, but also Pharmacy, Nursing Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Physiotherapy, Environmental Health and Public Health.

Wits, Pretoria, UCT, Stellebosch have been ranked best medical schools.

SADC Protocol on Education says member states agreed that where necessary and appropriate, but without prejudice to do normal admission requirements, socially disadvantaged groups shall be given preference in admission to fields of study where they have featured prominently.

It contitues to say that further, the government shall where necessary provide special scholarships for students from socially disadvantaged groups.

The Protocol says member states agreed to recommend to universities and other tertiary instiutions in their countries to reserve at least five percent of admissions for students SADC nations other than countries of their own.

Member States also agreed to work towards harmonisation, equivalence and eventual standardisation equivalence and eventual standardisation of university entrance requirements.

Southern African News

Home Analysis Timely rejuvenation of the African Peer Review Mechanism?

• Analysis

Timely rejuvenation of the African Peer Review Mechanism?

8th March 2016

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Six years before the 2014 Burkina Faso uprising, the country’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) report identified “omnipresent weight and domination of the majority, which seems to ‘block’ the democratic system and stifle multiparty politics”.

The assessment called on authorities to “provide appropriate responses and solutions to bring about the necessary change”.

In South Africa, the 2007 APRM report stated that “xenophobia against other Africans is currently on the rise and should be nipped in the bud.” Dozens of migrants have since lost their lives in attacks.

African Union Member States established the APRM in 2003 as a voluntary tool to assess political, economic and corporate governance, and socio-economic development in countries. It seeks to ensure that the policies and practices of participating states conform to African Union standards of transparency and accountability.

UNDP has provided financial and technical support to the APRM since 2003 as a singular inclusive platform that convenes different actors from government, civil society and other sectors to look holistically at a country’s status across these governance and development issues and agree on a way forward.

Once signed up, countries first grade themselves and then allow a panel of independent experts to assess the findings, followed by a government response. The combined report and resulting National Plan of Action are then shared with fellow heads of state and government in the APR Forum, where potential areas of support, shared experiences, etc., are discussed.

To date 35 countries have acceded to the APRM, of which 17 have put themselves forward for peer review. The findings have presented some common challenges across countries. These include corruption, youth bulges and unemployment, poor infrastructure, and inconsistent gender mainstreaming. The review also highlights good practices, ask critical questions, set goals, and differentiate responsibilities between government and non-governmental actors. The APRM reports also recommend mitigation actions for the challenges raised. The 2006 Kenya report, for instance, encouraged the government and political parties to work on conflict resolution mechanisms to build consensus on crucial national issues, defuse ethnic tension and promote tolerance. A year later, the country experienced post-election violence that saw thousands of people killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Despite its utility, the APRM has suffered some challenges. These include irregular payment of contributions by Member States, delays in review and lack of post-review follow-up due to changes in political leadership. Momentum is also slowed when countries that have acceded to the APRM do not opt for review.

The current Chair of the APR Forum, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on heads of state to recommit to the ideals of the mechanism. He is seeking to revitalize and refocus the APRM to deliver on continental and global development agendas.

A new Chief Executive Officer has been appointed.

Member States are being urged to meet their financial obligations to ensure a well-staffed and equipped secretariat to oversee the efficient running of the mechanism. Non-participating countries have also been called upon to join in order to ensure consistency in the implementation and monitoring of the global 2030 Agenda and Africa’s Agenda 2063.

More could be done to build on this progress. Regular payment of all assessed contributions would ensure a well-staffed and equipped continental secretariat to oversee the efficient running of the mechanism.

The secretariat could review the APRM process taking into account technological and legal developments since the mechanism was set up 13 years ago.

Reviews should be timed to align with a country’s national development planning process in order to integrate Action Plan outcomes and ring-fence resources for implementation.

Efforts should be made to include all segments of society in the review process to build ownership and sustainability of results.

The tenets of good governance, such as participation, transparency and accountability are not voluntary. So why should their monitoring be? It is time for the APRM to revisit its voluntary nature as a means to entrench these values continent-wide.

Goal 16 of the universal Sustainable Development Goals promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, while Agenda 2063 envisions an integrated, prosperous and peaceful continent.

Both provide a timely opportunity for the APRM to deliver on its original vision – to foster conditions for economic integration, political stability and sustainable development.

David Omozuafoh

• David Omozuafoh is programme advisor for APRM and Governance Assessment, UNDP Africa

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SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL NEWS

The Composition of South African Football

South African Premier Division

The Premier Soccer League was founded in 1996, as a merger between the National Premier Soccer League and the National Soccer League. The Premier Division is the current top league in South Africa, with the winner being crowned as the national champion. The league is made up of 16 teams, all of which are professional. At the end of each season one team is automatically relegated to the National First Division, a second team may also be relegated through a play-off. The relegated teams are replaced by one or two teams from the National First Division.

National First Division

The National First Division is the current second tier in South African football. The league is made up of 16 teams, which are either professional or semi-professional. The league is governed and controlled by the same body which runs the Premier Soccer League. The league winner is automatically promoted the Premier Soccer League at the end of the season. Another highly placed team may also be promoted through a play-off. At the end of the season two bottom clubs are relegated, and replaced by two play-off winners from the Vodacom League.

SAFA Second Division

The SAFA Second Division is the third tier of South African football, and the highest tier directly controlled by the South African Football Association. The league is played on a provincial basis, and made up mostly of semi-professional sides. 144 clubs are divided into nine, 16 team leagues. At the end of the season the nine league winners enter into a series of play-offs to earn the two promotion places in the National First Division. The bottom two teams in each league are relegated to the SAB Regional League.

SAB Regional League

The SAB Regional League is the fourth tier of South African football, and the second highest tier controlled by the South African Football Association. The league is made up of 832 clubs, divided into 52 leagues. Each of the 52 leagues is associated with one of the nine provincial leagues in the Vodacom League, and are usually amateur teams. The regional league winners enter into a series of play-offs in their province, to gain two places in each provincial league in the Vodacom League.

LFA Football League

Leagues below the SAB Regional League are controlled by SAFA's Local FootballAssociations. The number of teams and leagues at this level can vary greatly depending on the area and the population. Teams in these leagues are almost always amateur.

Youth Football Leagues

There are several different youth football leagues, organised along geographic lines. The main youth competition is the U19 National League, run along localfootball association lines.

Tertiary Football

Most universities in South Africa include football programs for both men and women. Most clubs play in the amateur leagues, competing against non-university sides. The exception is in the Gauteng province, where clubs play in the GautengFootball League.

The two largest university football tournaments are the USSA Footballtournament and Varsity Sports Football Challenge. The USSA tournament is open to all universities, and allows separate teams for different campuses. The Varsity Sports tournament is only open to universities aligned to the University Sports Company, and only allows one club per university.

The University of the Witwatersrand and University of Pretoria each run professional clubs, Bidvest Wits and Tuks F.C., which play on their campuses and campaign in the South African Premier Division. Maluti FET College F.C. competes in the National First Division.

Schools Football

There are also several leagues for high school and junior school football teams, however many private and former model c schools have chosen not to includefootball programs. The largest schools football tournament is the Kay Motsepe Cup.

Cup competitions

The Nedbank Cup is South Africa's main football cup, and is modeled on England's FA Cup. The cup is open to teams from the Premier Soccer League down to the SAB Regional Leagues.

The Telkom Knockout is the country's League Cup, and open only to PSL teams.

The MTN 8 is a Super Cup and played between the top eight finishers from the previous season's PSL.

The Baymed Cup is a defunct cup competition, which was open to National First Division sides.

The SAFA Second Division, currently known as ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons, and previously known as theVodacom League between 1998-2012, was founded in 1998 as the current Second Division and the overall third tier of South Africanfootball. The competition is regulated by SAFA, and until 2012 had been sponsored by mobile telecommunications company Vodacom.

Currently it features 144 teams in total, divided into 9 divisions, borderly decided by the 9 geo-political provinces of South Africa: Eastern Cape,Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng,Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. This means, that each Provincial division contains 16 teams as standard. The winner of each Provincial division qualifies for the annual Promotional Play-offs, where the winners of two streams, will get promoted to the National First Division. In each Province, the two lowest ranked teams by the end of the season, will be relegated to U21 SAB Regional League, which in return will promote two play-off winners from the Regional Championships.

An important rule to note, is that all clubs in South Africa also are allowed to compete with youth teams (U19/U21) and/or a Reserve team in a lower SAFA league. If a club opt to field such teams, the U19 teams will start out at the fifth level in theU19 National League, while U21 teams or Reserve teams will start out at the fourth level in the U21 SAB Regional League. If any U19 team win promotion for U21 SAB Regional League or SAFA Second Division, this promotion is fully accepted. No club are however entitled to field two teams at the same level, and rule 4.6.4 of the SAFA regulations states, that if the mother club play in the National First Division or Premier Soccer League, then the highest level these additional Youth/Reserve teams are allowed to compete, will be the SAFA Second Division. In such cases, where a non-promotable team manage to win their regional division, the ticket for the promotional playoffs will instead be handed over to the second best team in the division.

In the 2010–11 season these promotional restrictions mean, that: Ajax Cape Town U19, Bay Academy, Bid Boys, Celtic Colts, SuperSport T.H. Academy and Mitchells Plain United, were all accepted to play in the league, but without any possibility of further promotion.

In March 2014, the Motsepe Foundation signed a five year deal for the naming rights of the competition worth 40,000,000ZAR. Patrice Motsepe named the competition in honour of his late father, Augustine Butana Chaane Motsepe.

National Teams

The South Africa senior national football team or Bafana Bafana (a Zulu term of endearment which means the boys, the boys) is the national team of South Africa and is controlled by the South African Football Association (SAFA). 

They returned to the world stage in 1992, after years of being banned by FIFA due to the apartheid system. 

The team has played at seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning once. The team has also played at three FIFA World Cups including, 1998 in France and 2002 in South Korea and Japan. South Africa became the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup when it hosted the 19th FIFA World Cup in June 2010. The team's Siphiwe Tshabalala was also the first person to score in this World Cup during the opening game against Mexico. Despite defeating France 2-1 in their final game of the group stage, they failed to progress from the first round of the tournament, becoming the first host nation to do so. South Africa had hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009. The team's highest achievement was winning the Africa Cup of Nations at home in 1996.

The men's team also plays matches in the COSAFA Cup and African Nations Championship.

The women's senior national team  (Banyana Banyana), has played at nine African Women's Championships and had a best finish of second place, which it accomplished four times, most recently in 2012. The team played at home during the 2010 African Women's Championship, and finished in third place, the third time South Africa has hosted the competition.

Junior teams

There are three men's youth teams:

Amaglug-glug (under 23)

Amajita (under 20)

Amajimbos (under 17)

Tsetse-flies (under 12)
Flying Birds (under 15)

and women's youth teams:

Basetsana (under 20)

Bantwana (under 17)
Women (under 23)

International tournaments

South Africa has hosted a number of large scale football tournaments. These include:

1994 COSAFA U-17 Cup

1996 African Cup of Nations

1999 All-Africa Games Football tournament

1999 COSAFA U-20 Cup

1999 UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup

2000 African Women's Championship

2000 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2001 COSAFA U-17 Cup

2001 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2002 COSAFA U-17 Cup

2002 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2003 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2004 African Women's Championship

2004 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2005 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2005 COSAFA Cup (co-host)

2006 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2007 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2007 COSAFA Cup (co-host)

2008 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2008 COSAFA Cup

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

2009 COSAFA U-20 Cup

2010 FIFA World Cup

2010 African Women's Championship

2011 African Youth Championship

2013 Africa Cup of Nations

2014 CHAN

2015 COSAFA Cup

South African players abroad

While most South African footballers play for local clubs, some professional players play in other countries.

The following is a list of South Africans playing in foreign leagues:

In Australia's A-League

Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners)

Devon Spence (Perth Glory)

In Australia's Queensland State League

Jonti Richter (Brisbane Strikers)

In Belgium's Pro League

Darren Keet (Kortrijk)

Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk)

Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren)

In Belgium's Second Division

Phakamani Mngadi (Eupen)

Msilo Modubi (Dessel Sport)

Ntuthuko Radebe (Eupen)

In Botswana's Premier League

Kaelo Kgaswane (Gaborone United)

Manqoba Ngwenya (Notwane FC)

Benedict Vilakazi (Notwane FC)

In Brazil's Brasileirão

Tyrone Sandows (São Paulo)

In Czech Republic's 2. Liga

Miguel Van Oudtshoorn (Bohemians Prague)

In Denmark's Superliga

Lebogang Phiri (Brøndby)

In England's Premier League

Steven Pienaar (Everton)

In England's Championship

Kagisho Dikgacoi (Cardiff City)

Tokelo Rantie (AFC Bournemouth)

Andrew Surman (AFC Bournemouth) (on loan from Norwich City)

In England's League One

Darren Holden (Hartlepool United F.C.)

Kgosi Ntlhe (Peterborough United)

In England's Conference South

Justin Miller (Chelmsford City)

In England's Northern Premier League Premier Division

Clive Moyo-Modise (Ashton United)

In Finland's Veikkausliiga

Cheyne Fowler (HJK Helsinki)

Leroy Maluka (Turun Palloseura)

In Hong Kong's First Division League

Scelo Zuma (Rangers)

In Israel's Premier League

Danny Amos (Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona)

Dino Ndlovu (Maccabi Haifa)

In Italy's Serie A

Joel Untersee (Juventus)

In Malaysia's Premier League

Philani Kubheka (Negeri Sembilan FA)

In Mozambique's Moçambola

Nkululeko Mkhize (Costa do Sol)

Mfiki Mthimkhulu (Clube Ferroviário da Beira)

In the Netherlands's Eredivisie

Thulani Serero (Ajax)

Kamohelo Mokotjo (PEC Zwolle)

Dean Patricio (PEC Zwolle)

Miguel Dias (footballer born in 1997) (PEC Zwolle)

Nhlakanipho Ntuli (FC Twente)

In New Zealand's Football Championship

Ryan De Vries (Waitakere United)

In Northern Cyprus' Birinci Lig

Jeffery Makoti (Bostancı Bağcıl)

Gert Schalkwyk (Bostancı Bağcıl)

In Poland's Ekstraklasa

Daylon Claasen (Lech Poznań)

In Portugal's Primeira Liga

Sergio Marakis (Maritimo)

In Scotland's Championship

Kyle Jacobs (Queen of the South)

In Scotland's League One

Jonathan Brown (Brechin City)

Michael Travis (Arbroath)

In Scotland's League Two

Devon Jacobs (Berwick Rangers)

In Slovakia's Super League

Ricardo Nunes (MSK Zilina)

In Swaziland's Premier League

Dumisani Kunene (Manzini Wanderers)

Vusi Madinane (Malanti Chiefs)

Jabulani Matu (Manzini Sundowns)

Tebogo Motale (Malanti Chiefs)

Sihle Ndaba (Malanti Chiefs)

Myron Shongwe (RSSC United)

In Sweden's Allsvenskan

May Mahlangu (Helsingborgs IF)

Sive Pekezela (Gefle IF)

Xolani Mdaki (Djurgardens IF) (On Loan from Mamelodi Sundowns)

Junaid Sait (Falkenbergs FF)

In Sweden's Superettan

Ayanda Nkili (Örebro SK)

Phathizwe Sacolo (IFK Värnamo)

Amethyst Bradley Ralani (Landskrona BoIS)

In Sweden's Division 1

Vaughan Miller (Motala)

In Switzerland's Challenge League

Lukas Schenkel (AC Bellinzona)

In Thailand's Premier League

Makhosonke Bhengu (Pattaya United)

In the USA's Major League Soccer

Ethan Sampson (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

In the USA's North American Soccer League

Tiyiselani Shipalane (Carolina RailHawks)

Jonathan Greenfield (San Antonio Scorpions)

In the USA's USL Professional Division

Stephen Armstrong (Charleston Battery)

Thabiso Khumalo (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)

Mpho Moloi (Harrisburg City Islanders)

In Vietnam's First Division

Diyo Sibisi (Fico Tây Ninh)

In Wales' Premier League

Steven Cann (Carmarthen Town A.F.C.)

There are many other South African players who have played abroad; or could be currently playing abroad or could have moved to other foreign clubs who not on the list. Some are now playing in South Africa and others have retired.