The Presiding Officers of Parliament, led by the National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and the National Council of Provinces Chairperson Amos Masondo, congratulate the Senior Women’s National Team for winning the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). 

Banyana Banyana, as the team is affectionately known, made history at the weekend when they defeated hosts Morocco by 2-1 to lift their first ever WAFCON title at the finals of the competition held in the city of Rabat. 

The Presiding Officers would like to congratulate coach Desiree Ellis and her charges for their contribution in shining the light on the potential of women in sports and once again demonstrating their capability and excellence on the international stage. 

“We salute our senior women's soccer team for lifting the South African flag high, enhancing our nation-building programme, inspiring the nation's hopes and aspirations as well as improving social cohesion. The Banyana Banyana victory, which catapulted the nation into the dizzy heights of continental football and World Cup qualifications, serves as a necessary upliftment amidst the current economic challenges and social hardships” said the statement. 

Banyana Banyana have made the country enormously proud and their win in this tournament is a significant contribution to the need for women sports to be given equal status, recognition and resources to bridge the inequality gap amongst the males and females taking part in the sport. This was the team’s sixth time at the final hurdle of the WAFCON since the competition’s inception in 1991. 

The Presiding Officers have noted with concern that despite consistently qualifying for all major CAF and FIFA competitions over the last couple of years, Banyana Banyana players were still being paid less than their male counterparts. 

They have called for the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the various sponsors involved in the game to do all necessary to ensure that this gap in the remuneration and recognition of women in soccer is closed. 

The Presiding Officers have also called for CAF, under the leadership of Mr Patrice Motsepe, to address the disparities in the prize money between men and women participating in their competitions. 

When the Senegalese men’s team won the AFCON earlier this year they received R77,6 million from CAF whereas Banyana Banyana will get R8,5 million for winning the WAFCON. “We recognise and appreciate CAF's increase of the WAFCON prize by 150%, from US$200 000 to US$500 000. However, while this is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done.” 

The Presiding Officers have called for both SAFA and CAF to come up with revenue sharing mechanism to bring the remuneration structures and bonus mechanism for all participants in their competitions, and the sports in general, on par. 

They also called on corporates to revisit their funding models and approach by investing in a manner that recognises women's sports and development. They urged patriotic corporates to come on board and assist in breaking the backbone of patriarchy by bridging the yawning gap within the game, both nationally and in domestic leagues. 

The Presiding Officers have also vowed to ensure that Committees, in their oversight, intensify calls for the recognition of gender based budgeting to positively impact on women sport.