Cape Town – Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is facing accusations of racism and misogyny after making controversial comments during a press conference.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) filed complaints with both the South African Football Association (Safa) and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), calling for action against him.
Broos became angry when defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi missed his flight to the national team camp.
While he knew the reason from Orlando Pirates, he refused to reveal it and criticised the 20-year-old’s professionalism.
In expressing his frustration, Broos said Mbokazi “is a black guy, but he will get out of my room as a white guy”, a remark the UDM labelled racist.
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The UDM has urged the South African Human Rights Commission to look into remarks made by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos regarding Mbekezeli Mbokazi and his agent, Basia Michaels. pic.twitter.com/KYbfUKiFzF
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) December 11, 2025
Broos also directed harsh comments at Mbokazi’s agent, Basia Michaels — who arranged his move to Chicago Fire — calling her a “nice little woman” who only thinks about “how much can I get”.
The UDM argues this was misogynistic and unbecoming of a national coach.
“Comments that make denigrating assumptions about a person’s humanity based on race and that reduce a woman to diminutive and contemptuous language are injurious and cannot be treated as off-hand or trivial,” the UDM wrote to Safa.
The party says Broos’ remarks undermine South Africa’s sporting values and risk damaging team cohesion ahead of Afcon and the 2026 World Cup.
🇿🇦Hugo Broos: “What I think? What will he do in Chicago?
“It’s not even a top team in MLS. I heard he’ll play in MLS2.
“That little woman who’s he’s agent think, think she’s clever, thinks she knows football.
“How can you make this deal before AFCON and World Cup?” pic.twitter.com/VAxm1tw7cN
— Football SA (@SAFootClassics) December 10, 2025
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They are demanding a public apology, a full investigation within five days, and mandatory anti-racism and anti-sexism training for all national team staff.
“Bafana Bafana must institute mandatory sensitivity, anti-racism and anti-sexism training for all senior and technical staff, coaches and players, with timelines and providers (sic) disclosed publicly,” the letter reads.
The UDM expressed the same concerns in its submission to the SAHRC.
“This complaint is brought not in the spirit of hostility, but out of a firm conviction that our democracy requires vigilance, accountability and the consistent defence of human dignity.”
Despite the controversy, Broos has recently guided Bafana Bafana to back-to-back Afcon qualifications and their first World Cup qualification since 2002.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
