Bafana Bafana coach faces SAHRC complaint over alleged ‘racist, sexist’ remarks”

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is facing an official complaint before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after a South African political party, United Democratic Movement (UDM), took action over comments the coach made regarding outgoing Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and his agent, Basia Michaels.

The political party confirmed the filing on Thursday, alleging the Belgian coach made “racist and sexist remarks” during a press conference held on Wednesday at the team’s training base in Pretoria. Broos had been expressing his frustration over Mbokazi’s late arrival to the camp in Pretoria on Wednesday and his transfer to USA club Chicago Fire FC.

The core of the UDM’s complaint stems from Broos’s statement regarding an upcoming meeting with the young defender:

“I will have a chat with him after training, and I can assure you, he’s a black guy and he will leave my room as a white guy.”

Bafana Bafana Broos’s Remarks Spark Formal SAHRC Complaint

UDM Member of Parliament Nqabayomzi Kwankwa publicly confirmed the complaint via a Facebook post, stating: “Racism and white supremacist attitudes have no place in our society and we will not tolerate them from anyone, including the Bafana Bafana coach.”

In addition to the racial insensitivity claim, the complaint addresses Broos’s reported comments on Mbokazi’s agent, Basia Michaels, whom he apparently referred to as a “nice little woman who is his agent” while criticising the defender’s transfer destination.

A confidential source close to the Bafana camp attempted to clarify the coach’s intent, suggesting Broos meant Mbokazi would be left “pale with concern” (white) after being disciplined, and attributed the comments regarding Michaels to the coach’s imperfect command of English.

However, the UDM letter, signed by secretary-general Yongama Zigebe, firmly rejects this defence. The letter asserts that the comments are “racially coded, derogatory and gender-diminishing” and carry significant weight in a country still grappling with the legacy of institutionalised racism and sexism.

The party’s letter, which cites Section 9 of the Constitution prohibiting unfair discrimination, states: “Public figures, particularly those entrusted with national teams, bear heightened obligations to uphold the values of non-racialism, non-sexism, respect and equality.”

The UDM has requested the SAHRC launch an independent investigation and issue appropriate recommendations to ensure accountability and corrective measures. The South African Football Association (SAFA) has thus far declined to comment on the formal complaint.