By Obakeng Maje

On Saturday, 18 August 2012, the SAFA NEC endorsed a number of important matters regarding the SAFA re-engineering process currently underway.

Key decisions taken include the following:1. The approval of a proposed organisational structure which will guide the reshaping of the administration of SAFA, and will be used as the basis of the consultation process which has begun with staff on the matter;

2. The approval in principle of a budget framework for the Association which will be presented to Congress for approval at the end of September, which involves cost savings at all levels of the Association;

3. A significant reduction in Committees of the Association from twenty three to eight, accomplished by a clustering of related committees.

Speaking after the NEC meeting, SAFA CEO, Dr Robin Petersen, stated “it’s been a long road since the process of change began in November 2011 and a real challenge to streamline the structure in a manner that can facilitate the delivery of SAFA’s mandate and achievement of SAFA’s vision in an efficient, effective and sustainable business manner, but I truly believe that, through working together with the SAFA President and Ad-Hoc Committee tasked to assist me in this process, we now have that structure”. SAFA’s re-engineering process was initiated following an NEC mandate to ensure that the organisation’s cost structures stay within budget and revenue projections and projects a significant staff overhead reduction going forward.

“The next stage is one of detailed negotiations with SAFA staff , who have been consulted and kept advised along the way, and fitting as many as possible of the current staff complement into the new structure. It is a fact that not all staff will be able to be accommodated and, in these situations due process will be followed. It is also possible that not all vacancies will be filled by current staff members as some of the positions require different combinations of skills and experience, but we will take these steps one at a time,” added Petersen.

The new SAFA structure is due to come in to effect on 01 October 2012.

It is not only the SAFA Staff structure that is affected by the re-engineering process. The Association’s governance structures have also been subject to review with specific focus on the number of oversight committees. “The NEC has approved a substantial reduction in the number of oversight committees, down from 23 to 8. This has been achieved through clustering of functions and responsibilities in order to maximize the efficiency of SAFA’s governance structures with the additional benefit of a reduction in costs,” stated SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani. “The current committee structure will be disbanded and replaced by 8 oversight committees with a consequent reduction in committee members from over 230 to 80.”

These proposals were unanimously approved at the NEC meeting.

The new Committees with their Chairs are as follows:

1. Finance and Procurement – Mr Lefore Lerefore

2. Commercial, International Relations, Media and Strategic Studies – Ms Nomsa Mahlangu

3. Technical and Referees – Mr Lucas Nhlapho

4. Legal, Membership affairs, Players Status and Dispute Resolution – Mr Poobalan Govindasamy

5. Ethics and Fair Play, Safety and Security, Protocol – Mr Jan Koopman

6. Organising Committee for SAFA Competitions, Football, Women’s Football, Youth Development, Futsal, Beach Football, Medical – Mr Sam Masitenyane

7. Internal Audit – Andile Ndengezi

8. HR and Remunerations – Mr Mzimkhulu Ndlelo

“SAFA is confident that through the re-engineering process we will become a stronger football association with the best governance structures and an efficient administration that is attuned to the demands of the modern football environment”, concluded Nematandan