15 Richest Footballers in South Africa

Football is a popular sport globally, and South Africa is no exception. Soccer stars who are greatly talented and skilled earn a lot of money and have high market values. They also get to represent their countries on the international scene as well. South Africa has quite several players playing both locally and internationally. The text below covers 15 of the richest footballers in South Africa.

Top 15 Richest Soccer Players in South Africa

1. Ronwen Williams
2. Sibusiso Vilakazi
3. Lehlohonolo Majoro
4. Themba Zwane
5. Thembinkosi Lorch
6. Innocent Maela
7. Oupa Manyisa
8. Kermit Erasmus
9. Siphiwe Tshabalala
10. Dean Furman
11. George Lebese
12. Itumeleng Khune
13. Bernard Parker
14. Andile Jali
15. Thulani Hlatshwayo

Ronwen Williams

Ronwen Hayden Williams is a goalkeeper for SuperSport United in the South Africa Premier Division and the South Africa national team. The 29-year-old goalkeeper has been active since 2010 and has won 2015, 2016 Nedbank cup and MTN8 2017 Cup. He has played for Shatterprufe Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur before joining Supersport United. Ronwen Hayden Williams has a market value of R18 million and has a net worth of about R2.8 million ($200,000).

Sibusiso Vilakazi

Sibuiso Vilakazi is an attacking midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South Africa national team. He is 31 years old and earns about R350,000 monthly. He has been active since 2009 and has won the following major titles;

1. South African DSTV Premier League x3 (2017/18, 2019/20)
2. CAF Super Cup (2016/17)
3. South African Cup Winner (2019/20)

He began his youth career with Bidvest Wits and has risen through the ranks to become one of South Africa’s richest footballers. Vilakazi is a versatile player and is always a threat from the right flank, either as a midfielder or a right-winger. He has a net worth of R7 million.

Lehlohonolo Majoro

Lehlohonolo Michael Majoro is a South African footballer who currently plays for AmaZulu F.C and the South African national team. The 35-year-old plays as a forward and has been active since 2005. He has played for several teams since his youth career. Here are a few of them;

Lehlohonolo Majoro- Youth Teams: Mubs FC

1. Kovsies FC
2. 2005–2006 Manyatseng United Brothers
3. 2006–2007 University of the Free State
4. 2007–2008 Bloemfontein Young Tigers
5. 2008–2009 University of Johannesburg
6. 2009–2010 Highlands Park

Lehlohonolo Majoro: Senior Career

1. 2010–2011 AmaZulu
2. 2011–2013 Kaizer Chiefs
3. 2013–2016 Orlando Pirates
4. 2016–2017 Cape Town City
5. 2018–2019 Bidvest Wits
6. 2019– AmaZulu

He has won the following titles; PSL (2012/13) and South Africa Cup (2016/17). Majoro has a net worth of R4.2 million ($283,000) earning him a spot on the richest stars in South Africa.

Themba Zwane

Themba Zwane is an attacking midfielder who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African National Team. The 32-year-old midfielder earns R166,000 monthly and has played for M Tigers and Vardos FC, He has been active since 2010. Mpumalanga Black Aces before joining Mamelodi Sundowns. He has won the following trophies: 

1. South African DSTV Premier League x4 (2015/16/17/18/19/20)
2. South African Cup (2015/2016 and 2019/20)
3. CAF winner (2015/16)
4. CAF Super Cup (2016/2017)

He has made waves in the South African football community and has risen to become one of the richest rappers in South Africa. Themba Zwane has a net worth of over R22 million.

Thembinkosi Lorch

Thembinkosi Lorch is a 28-year-old forward who plays for Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team. He earns about R108,000 monthly and has been active since 2013. He has won the 2020/2021 MTN8 Cup. Thembinkosi is popularly known as “Nyoso” and has a market value of over R14 million. Lorch is ranked as one of the highest-paid players in South Africa. He also has a lucrative endorsement deal with Cartrack South Africa. Thembinkosi Lorch has a net worth of about R7.6 million.

Innocent Maela

 Innocent Maela is a 29-year-old defender. He is arguably the best fullback in South African football and also on our list of the richest footballers in South Africa. Innocent Maela plays for Orlando Pirates and the South African National team. He is the son of footballer Eric Masilela and a half-brother to AmaZulu’s Tsepho Masilela. Innocent played for Witbank Spurs (2012-2014). Thanda Royal Zulu (2014-2017) before joining Orlando Pirates in 2017. He has been active since 2012 and has managed to win the MTN8 Cup. Maela is also a versatile player in all defensive positions and has a market value capped at R17 million. He has an estimated net worth of R9.6 million.

 Oupa Manyisa

Oupa Matthews Onyisa is a 33-year-old central midfielder considered to be one of the best footballers in South Africa. He has played for Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and TMM F.C. He has been active since 2008 and has managed to win the following trophies;

1. South African DSTV Premier League x5 (2010/11/12/2017/2018/19/20)
2. MTN8 CUP x2 (2010/11/12)
3. South African Cup (2011/2012)

Oupa Manyisa is a natural midfielder and a gifted striker. He hails from Mohkakeng in the Gauteng region of South Africa. He played for SA Napoli at age 7 and PJ Stars at age 9. He signed for Orlando Pirates after some unsuccessful trials with English teams. He then joined rivals Mamelodi Sundowns before a move to TTM F.C.Oupa Manyisa has a net worth of R8 million.

Kermit Erasmus

Kermit Romeo Erasmus is a 31-year-old forward who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African National team. He plays as a striker or winger and has played for several European teams. He has played for the following clubs throughout his career.

1. SuperSport United
2. Feyenoord
3. Excelsior
4. Orlando Pirates
5. Rennes
6. Lens
7. AFC Eskilstuna
8. Vitoria de Setubal
9. Cape Town City

The talent is worth $950,000 and is among the richest players in South Africa.

Siphiwe Tshabalala

Lawrence Siphiwe Tshabalala is a 37-year old midfielder who played for AmaZulu most recently. He plays as a winger and has been active since 2003. He has played for Alexandra United, Free State Stars, Kaizer Chiefs and BB Erzurumspor. He has managed to win the following trophies;

1. Absa Premiership x2 (2012/2013, 2014/2015)
2. MTN8 Cup (2008)

His opening goal against Mexico will be memorable to many South Africans. While he was playing for BB Erzurumspor, he was earning the equivalent of R450,000 monthly. He is among South Africa’s richest footballers with a net worth of R13.8 million.

Dean Furman

Dean Furman is a 33-year old midfielder who plays for the English side Altrincham. He has played for Chelsea, Rangers, Bradford City, Oldham Athletic, Doncaster Rovers, SuperSport United and Carlisle United before heading off to Altrincham, He has been active since 2003 and has won the following trophies;

1. MTN8 Cup (2017/18)
2. 2x NEDBANK Cup (2015/16 and 2016.17)

Dean Furman is a very versatile player with loads of experience from playing in the best footballing nations. Dean Furman has a market value of about R9 million. He earns a monthly income of R300,000. He was one of the highest-earning players in the South African Premier League before moving to Carlisle. He has an estimated net worth of R14 million.

George Lebese

George Lebese is a 32-year-old left-winger who has played for Arcadia Shepherds, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Supersport United, Colorado Springs Switchbacks and TTM F.C. He has also played for the South African national team. George Lebese has a market value of over R3 million. He has also co-founded a cosmetics line with two other footballers namely, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Mido Ochocinco. He has a net worth of R14 million making him one of South Africa’s richest footballers.

Itumeleng Khune

Itumeleng Isaac Khune is a goalkeeper who plays for Kaizer Chiefs and the South African national team. Itumeleng captains both teams. He earns about R470,000 monthly. The 34-year-old goalkeeper has been active since 1999 and has enjoyed a successful career. He has won the following trophies;

1. Premier Soccer League x3 (2004/2005, 2012/2013 and 2014/2015)
2. ABSA Cup/ Nedbank Cup x3 (2006. 2013 and 2014)
3. Coca Cola Cup/ Telkom Knockout (2004, 2007 and 2010)
4. MTN8 Cup x3 (2006, 2008, 2014 and 2015)

He has signed some lucrative endorsement deals with companies such as Kiwi Polish, Vaseline, Nike and others, which can earn him up to R1.5 million annually. Itumeleng has a net worth of R15 million.

Bernard Parker

Benard Parker is a 35-year-old attacking midfielder and forward who plays for Kaizer Chiefs and the South Africa national team. He earns about R300,000 per month. He has played for Thanda Royal Zulu, Red Star Belgrade, FC Twente, Panserraikos and Kaizer Chiefs. He has been active since 2004 and has won the following trophies;

1. Dutch Champion(2009/2010)
2. Dutch Super Cup (2011)
3. South African Cup (2012/2013)
4. MTN8 Cup (2014/2015)
5. South African Champion (2012/13/14/15)

Benard Parker has many years of experience under his belt both from South Africa and abroad. He is among the richest South African footballers with a net worth of about R20 million.

Andile Jali

Andile Ernest Jali is a 31-year-old midfielder who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African national team as a central or defensive midfielder. He has played for Pretoria University, Orlando Pirates and K.V Oostende before joining Mamelodi in 2018. He has been active since 2007 and has won the following trophies;

1. South African Champion x6 (2010/11/12 and 1018/19/20)
2. South African Cup (2011/12 and 2019/20)
3. MTN8 Cup (2010/11/12)

He is reportedly Mamelodi’s highest-earning player, earning R550,000, with a market value of R20 million making him the most valuable player in the region. He has a net worth of about $3 million.

Thulani Hlatshwayo

Thulani Tyson Hlatshwayo is a defender who plays for Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team. He has played for Ajax Cape Town, Bidvest Wits before signing for Orlando Pirates in 2020. The 31-year-old centre back has been active since 2005 and has won the following trophies;

1. South African Champion (2016/17)
2. South African Cup (2017/2018)
3. MTN8 Cup(2020/2021)

Thulani earns over R150,000 monthly and has a net worth of R28 million making him one of the richest soccer players in South Africa This article has covered 15 Richest Footballers in South Africa. Read and go through it to rate top richest South African soccer players.