Just over a month ago, iDiski Times reported that the five Limpopo-born Banyana Banyana stars were not paid money, promised by the provincial department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Noko Matlou, Lebogang Ramalepe, Nomvula Kgoale, Hildah Magaia and Amogelang Motau were part of the Banyana Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) success in Morocco.
They were promised R100 000 each at a ceremony which was followed by street parade in Limpopo’s capital by former MEC of Sport Thandi Moraka in July this year.
Half of that money was to be coming from the MEC’s outreach programme and the other from the Sports Awards Programme.
In October the department’s head of communication Kenny Mathivha admitted it was an oversight, on the department’s side for not contacting players and updating them.
Mathivha also said the players would be awarded the money at the provincial sports awards
on 5 November 2022.
More than two weeks later from the date which the girls were promised to get their money, the players have not heard anything from department officials.
Matlou who plays for Eibar in Spain says she tried to follow up on her own after iDiski Times’ article and she was told the delay was due to the department wanting to increase the money.
However the Moletji-born veteran is yet to hear anything from the department.
Ramalepe, 30, who is plying her trade in Belarus says the frustration is that this is not the first time this is happening to her.
“It is so frustrating. I don’t know if they made the promise just for show because they thought we wouldn’t follow up. That’s a lot of money we will do follow-ups. We understand there could be challenges in the office but they should at least try and communicate with us.
“I don’t know if this is bad luck or what because I remember the first time this happened and I had to ask for assistance from the media.
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“It’s like history is repeating itself. We can blame the system but people are the system because I don’t think a computer can randomly pick someone and say we will give you money. It’s humans who said we are going to honour you guys and they should keep their promises,” said Ramalepe.
Kgoale who is home taking care of her mental wellness following the WAFCON was just as
disappointed.
“It’s disappointing to see that the very first province to announce that they will be compensating us has not lived up to their word.
‘We know that the former MEC has left and she was the one who made the big announcement.
“We didn’t expect anything but for them to deliver. What is sad in this whole thing is that you think it will come because they said they will communicate with you but you sit every day and not even get a text.
“It is frustrating and people do get annoyed because it’s like you are forcing them to do something that they don’t want to do, while they are the ones who promised,” said Kgoale.
Magaia who scored a brace in the WAFCON final against Morocco told iDiski Times she just wants better communication.
“I haven’t heard any communication from the people at the department and I must say it is really disappointing and frustrating seeing that they promised this money but now they can’t keep their word.
“They are just going around and they are not telling us anything. No one is in contact with us to tell us what’s really going on so we can know if there is something that’s delaying them from giving us the money”
University of Western Cape midfielder Motau also confirmed she hasn’t been contacted and would also like some clarity.
“I haven’t received any communication from the department or anyone with regard to the
payment.
“Being in this situation is uncomfortable as well as disappointing knowing that our province has always done right by us. I just hope that maybe there is a misunderstanding.
“All we are asking for is just clarity in terms of communicating the matter to us and hopefully they will honour their word and do what’s right,” she said.
The same thing happened to Matlou and Ramalepe in October 2019. The two were among the recipients of the MEC’s 2019 Excellence Awards which came with a R20 000 prize money.
After being sent from pillar to post and with the assistance of the media the two were eventually paid in 2020.
