By Mohammed Allie BBC Sport, Cape Town

Mabizela fought for increased allowances for his colleagues

South Africa captain Mbulelo 'Old John' Mabizela and his deputy Aaron Mokoena could be removed from their positions after a Safa report criticised the conduct of the pair.

In a copy of the report, leaked to the Sowetan newspaper, Mabizela and Mokoena were labelled "mercenaries" in the report, which examined South Africa's failure to progress beyond the group stages of the Cup of Nations for the first time in five appearances.

According to Obakeng Molatedi, a senior member of the Safa delegation in Tunisia, Mabizela was at the forefront of the players wage dispute shortly before their opening Group D game against Benin in Sfax, which Bafana Bafana won 2-0.

The players had threatened to go on strike if Safa didn't accede to their wage demands.

They were eventually guaranteed $25,000 each after Safa initially dispensed with appearance fees, replacing them with win and draw bonuses.

"On discussing the letter of demand [written by the players], we were shocked to see the captain in the forefront [of the protest].

"Even when the other players could understand that we couldn't change the decision of the National Executive Committee, he was vocal that we must accede to their demand," said Molatedi.

"The leadership role of the captain Mbulelo Mabizela and his assistant Aaron Mokoena, respectively, did not help us.

Mokoena has also been blamed by the Safa report

"How they were chosen needs to be revisited," Molatedi added.

But national goalkeeper Andre Arendse defended the pair, saying the entire squad must take responsibility for the poor performance at the Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

"I think it's very unfair to label the players - it won't do any good for the team.

"We should all shoulder the blame for the poor showing in Tunisia - the players know they could have done better.

"But the administrators must also take some responsibility.