The South African Football Association have announced Lydia Monyepao as their new and first ever female CEO after the resignation of Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe.
SAFA announced the news during a press conference on Monday, where National Executive member Lydia Monyepao has been named as the new CEO.
Monyepao, who is a former Banyana Banyana player and team manager and worked for Tuks Sport, will be the first female to take on the CEO role in SAFA’s history.
She is a football-lover who believes in the combination of sport and education, as personally she holds a BCom (Wits), a BCom Honors in Accounting (UKZN) and a Masters in Sport Management (Loughborough, UK) earned during her playing career. Monyepao is passionate about the mentorship of young women in football and enhancing the leadership of women in sport. She attended the FIFA Women in Football Leadership Programme held in Zurich in November 2019 as recommended by SAFA.
Meanwhile, Motlanthe addressed the media on Monday, denying that the resignation letter that was leaked on social media over the weekend, was his.
“I have tendered my resignation, I’ve sent to a letter which I’ve signed,” Motlanthe stated at Monday’s press conference.
“The one which you saw on social media, I would like to categorically say, it’s not my letter. I don’t know, mine has a signature.”
Motlanthe also pointed out that he is not leaving on bad blood, will support SAFA’s bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and is available to the association and their new CEO whenever they need him.
At 39, Advocate Motlanthe became the youngest SAFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) when he was appointed officially in January 2021. He had served as an acting CEO since April 2020 and had previously served the FA as a Head of Legal and Compliance after having worked at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee.
Motlanthe succeeded former Acting CEOs Gay Mokoena and Russel Paul, who in turn had replaced Dennis Mumble, who was the last full-time CEO.
