The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday said it wants Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula to “intervene in the delayed payment of bonuses to Banyana Banyana”.

The party’s Solly Malatsi said the R1-million to be shared equally by the players‚ announced by the South African Football Association (Safa) and sponsor Sasol in October last year‚ had yet not been paid.

The money was a reward for qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

“The DA has reliably learnt that the players have also not been paid their daily allowances for the training camp held between 7 and 18 December 2015‚” Malatsi said.

“The non-payment of bonuses to date‚ coupled with delays in payment of match fees and daily allowances for Banyana Banyana is a broader reflection of Safa ineptitude and its mistreatment of women’s football‚ which amounts to blatant sexism because the same treatment has not characterised the male national soccer team.”

The DA also wants Mbalula to “interrogate why‚ despite consistent success in continental football competitions‚ our national women’s team is paid ‘up to R5000 per match’ by Safa‚ according to replies to questions put by the DA”.

“The majority of Banyana Banyana players rely solely on their match fees‚ daily allowances and bonuses for survival as they don’t earn monthly salaries from their respective teams‚” said Malatsi.

“Bayana Bayana are professional soccer players and should not be forced to play a waiting game for money that they deserve and need.

“It is disappointing that Banyana Banyana are treated unfairly by the very body that claims to value fairness and equality.”