Beleaguered football governing body SA Football Association (Safa) could face liquidation after allegations by its former legal representatives that the entity is unable to pay its debts, reports TimesLIVE.

The Sunday Times established that Menzi Vilakazi Attorneys have approached the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg, claiming that Safa should be declared insolvent for failing to pay legal fees amounting to R1.6m.

The firm lodged its application on 28 February, alleging that Safa is commercially insolvent and has conceded that it is experiencing financial constraints. In the application, the firm states that liquidation is the final recourse, as it had already obtained a court order from the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) in August 2025 after it became clear that its invoices would not be paid.

‘When the firm demanded payment of the debt, Safa assured the firm that its CEO and finance department were working on a payment plan and would engage the firm once arrangements were in place,’ read the papers.

The court documents show the firm submitted invoices to the football body in July, totalling R1 600 105. 

‘It became apparent that Safa did not have sufficient cash flow to pay the debt, and it is insolvent. Again, Safa did not dispute the debt and accepted the rendered services as being in good order.’

The firm alleges that when it contacted Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao in January this year, she indicated that the organisation was not in a position to pay. 

‘By doing so, it is impossible for the firm to anticipate any defence, and we humbly submit that, should Safa now belatedly conjure a dispute of fact, it should be penalised with a punitive costs order.’

They argue that a liquidation order ought to be granted on a provisional basis should the entity ultimately fail to meet its payment obligations.

Full TimesLIVE report