President Cyril Ramaphosa with Banyana Banyana at the Union Building in Pretoria
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President Cyril Ramaphosa says the days of unequal pay for men and women need to become a thing of the past.
He was hosting the victorious SA women's football team Banyana Banyana at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday morning.
Desiree Ellis' triumphant team arrived home to a heroes welcome on Tuesday after they beat hosts Morocco 2-1 in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on Saturday night.
"We need to give added remuneration to these young women who have made our country so proud," said the President.
"But having done so, we must then make sure that we eliminate the whole process of unequal pay out of our system. When men and women do equal work their remuneration must be the same."
President Ramaphosa went so far as to say that the notion that men should get better pay than women be outlawed completely.
"It is unfair and unjust and we cannot continue treating the women of our country in a manner like that," he said.
The President concluded that he'd like to see the Banyana team receive added remuneration over and above what Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced on Tuesday.
At the team's arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, they were presented with a giant cheque for R5.8 million. This amount was over and above the initial R400 000 win-bonus that each player received for winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations crown.
Meanwhile, The Confederation of African Football CAF has named four Banyana Banyana players in their Best 11.
They are Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Banyana Banyana co-captain Andile Dlamini, defender Bambanani Mbane, co-captain Refiloe Jane and striker Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Ahead of the final against Morocco, Banyana Banyana’s mentor Desiree Ellis was named Africa's women football coach of the year.
