South Africa Government Provides R20 Million for Video Assistant Referee Rollout

Officials stated they are finalizing approval of the budget to begin the work. The funding is held in a separate account dedicated to the project.

Groundwork for the rollout has been underway for seven months. The association said video assistant referee technology will be up and running across South African professional football by the start of the 2026/27 season. The sports minister had previously promised the system for the 2025/26 season but later said in July that funding was still not finalized.

In May 2025 the sports minister stated that R90 million had already been secured for the project. Two months later the minister told Parliament that the government was still finalizing the funding process. The 2025/26 season concluded without the technology in place.

By March 2026 the sports minister said he had proof of payment in hand. The funding amount referenced has since changed from R90 million to the R20 million now confirmed. Neither the government nor the association has explained the difference.

A spokesperson said the association has no excuse not to proceed. Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritania already use video assistant referee technology in their domestic leagues.

The association said the league will be consulted as the main user of the system. >"We are the leading country in Africa.