World Cup 2026: Helman Mkhalele and Mdu Mbatha secure visas to join Bafana Bafana in Mexico
Fifa World Cup 2026
Following a chaotic administrative blunder by SAFA, Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele and head of security Mdu Mbatha have finally received their travel documents. Photo: Backagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele and head of security Mdu Mbatha are set to depart for the team’s Fifa World Cup campaign, starting in Mexico, on Tuesday after finally securing their visas.
SABC Sport reported on Tuesday that Safa president Danny Jordaan confirmed the duo have finally received their travel documents to go to the global showpiece, following the association’s administrative debacle on Sunday morning.
Bafana were scheduled to depart for Pachuca, their base in Mexico City, on Sunday, but their travel was halted after reports emerged that more than 20 personnel of the team, including players and the technical team, still lacked the proper visas.
Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie was openly critical on social media after the report, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to lambaste the association for being incompetent, calling the incident an embarrassing act by SAFA.
McKenzie’s office reportedly worked closely with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to secure visas for all the players and most of coach Hugo Broos’ backroom staff, successfully excluding Mkhalele and Mbatha.
After conceding their blunder, Safa apologised to the nation and announced they had appointed a three-member emergency organising committee to manage the team’s administrative affairs during the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
The committee comprises: Bafana Head of Delegation (HOD) David Molwantwa, Safa Chairperson of the Finance Committee Mxolisi Sibam, and Team Manager Vincent Tseka.
Tseka came under heavy fire for the visa debacle, as ensuring the team's smooth travel was one of his core duties. The criticism against Tseka is amplified because it follows his previous administrative failure to track Teboho Mokoena’s yellow card suspension in the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Bafana landed in Mexico City on Tuesday afternoon after leaving OR Tambo International Airport on a charter flight Monday afternoon, while Mkhalele and Mbatha are expected to join them on Wednesday.