South Africa’s 2023 Women’s World Cup Squad: Breaking Gender Barriers and Achieving Equality

by
1 min read
south africa women's world cup

South Africa’s 2023 Women’s World Cup squad has resolved a dispute with the national association regarding gender pay gap in sports. The Motsepe Foundation, founded by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president and billionaire Patrice Motsepe and his wife Precious Motsepe, played a significant role in settling the dispute.

The Issue

The squad members’ contracts did not include the $30,000 appearance fee promised by FIFA to each of the 23 players, which sparked a conversation about gender pay gaps in South African sports. Precious Motsepe emphasized that this moment is significant in moving beyond mere lip-service when it comes to gender equality.

Newsletter

Stay Informed • Cape Town

Get breaking news, events, and local stories delivered to your inbox daily. All the news that matters in under 5 minutes.

Join 10,000+ readers
No spam, unsubscribe anytime

The Solution

The Women’s World Cup, set to begin on July 20, will witness each player receiving a R230,000 bonus in addition to the FIFA fee. Sports minister Zizi Kodwa emphasized the importance of treating the women’s squad with the same respect and compensation as their male counterparts.

The Team

South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, and Zambia will represent Africa in the World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The Impact

The courageous acts of these women have not only caught the attention of sports enthusiasts and feminists alike but have also demonstrated the power of unity and perseverance in the face of adversity. The 2023 Women’s World Cup provides an excellent platform for these exceptional athletes to not only showcase their talent but also to bring awareness to the gender disparities that have long plagued the world of sports.

The Future

The national discourse around gender pay gaps in South African sports has been invigorated by the squad’s determination and the Motsepe Foundation’s intervention. The 2023 Women’s World Cup may serve as a defining moment for gender equality, setting a precedent for future generations of athletes.

Tags:

You might be interested in

Isabella Schmidt is a Cape Town journalist who chronicles the city’s evolving food culture, from Bo-Kaap spice merchants to Khayelitsha microbreweries. Raised hiking the trails that link Table Mountain to the Cape Flats, she brings the flavours and voices of her hometown to global readers with equal parts rigour and heart.

View all

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

cholera south africa
Previous Story

Cholera Outbreak in South Africa: Overview of Affected Provinces

ambulance hijack community impact Cape Town
Next Story

Ambulance Hijack: A Tale of Crime and Community Impact

Latest from Blog

sustainable farming community

Dawn, Dirt and Dinner: A Willowvale Kitchen Without Walls

In Willowvale, farmers cleverly plant in manurefilled pits to save water and feed the soil. They also build special ditches to catch rainwater, making sure not a single drop goes to waste. Cooking happens outdoors, over crackling fires, using fresh food grown right there. They even turn old things into new cooking tools. It’s all about living close to the earth and making every bit count, showing a deep love for nature.

Cape Town Traditional Governance

Cape Town Quietly Rewrites the Rules Between Tradition and the State

Cape Town is cleverly changing how it supports traditional initiation camps. They now treat these camps like temporary city areas, providing water, toilets, and trash pickup. This helps keep everyone safe and healthy, using smart data to track everything. It’s a quiet revolution, making sure old traditions fit smoothly into modern city life, and other cities are starting to notice this clever plan.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease South Africa

South Africa Plays Hardball on Hoof-and-Mouth: A Five-Year Blitz to Reopen R7 Billion in Beef Trade

South Africa is launching a massive fiveyear plan to crush FootandMouth Disease for good. They’re upgrading labs, getting tons of vaccines, and working with villages to tag and track every animal. This tough new strategy, backed by big money, aims to reopen a R7 billion beef trade with countries like China and the EU. They’re using strict rules, new tech, and even special meetings with local leaders to make sure no sick animal slips through. It’s a fullon war to protect their cattle and bring back their valuable beef exports!

South Africa Tourism

South Africa’s Gateways in November 2025: 3,1 Million Footprints in 30 Days

In November 2025, South Africa saw a massive 3.1 million people cross its borders. This huge number of visitors, especially 2.37 million noncitizens, made it the busiest November for foreign entries since before COVID hit in 2019. It was like a river of people flowing in, showing how popular South Africa had become again.