Orlando Pirates are one of South Africa's biggest football clubs, and the Buccaneers have continued to invest in experienced players as well as some of the country's most promising young talent.
The club does not officially publish individual player salaries, meaning figures reported in the media should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed amounts. Salaries can also change when players sign new contracts or receive improved terms.
Here is a look at some of the highest-paid Orlando Pirates players based on publicly reported salary estimates and available squad information for 2026.
1. Deon Hotto
Estimated salary: Around R500,000 per month
Position: Winger
Nationality: Namibian
Deon Hotto has historically been reported as one of the highest earners at Orlando Pirates, with his salary estimated at around R500,000 per month.
The experienced Namibian international has been an important player for Pirates since joining the club and has contributed with goals, assists and his versatility across the attacking positions.
His reported salary places him among the club's biggest earners, although his exact current contract value has not been publicly confirmed.
2. Evidence Makgopa
Estimated salary: Around R200,000 per month
Position: Striker
Nationality: South African
Evidence Makgopa is one of the prominent forwards in the Pirates squad.
The striker has previously been reported to earn approximately R200,000 per month. His physical presence and ability to play as a central striker have made him an important option in the Buccaneers' attack.
3. Innocent Maela
Estimated salary: Around R150,000 per month
Position: Defender
Nationality: South African
Innocent Maela is one of the most experienced players associated with the Pirates squad.
The defender has previously been reported to earn approximately R150,000 per month. His experience at club and international level has made him one of the senior figures within the team.
4. Tapelo Xoki
Estimated salary: Around R100,000 per month
Position: Defender
Nationality: South African
Tapelo Xoki has established himself as an important defensive option for Orlando Pirates.
Previous salary reports have placed his earnings at approximately R100,000 per month. His current salary has not been officially disclosed by the club.
5. Olisa Ndah
Estimated salary: Around R107,000 per month
Position: Defender
Nationality: Nigerian
Nigerian defender Olisa Ndah has been part of Pirates' defensive setup for several seasons.
His salary has previously been estimated at around R107,000 per month. The actual figure in his current contract has not been made public.
6. Relebohile Mofokeng
Estimated salary: Around R80,000–R100,000 per month
Position: Midfielder/Winger
Nationality: South African
Relebohile Mofokeng is regarded as one of the exciting young talents in the Pirates squad.
Earlier reports placed his salary between R80,000 and R100,000 per month. As his importance to the team has increased, his contract may have changed, meaning older salary estimates may no longer reflect his current earnings.
7. Thalente Mbatha
Estimated salary: Not publicly confirmed
Position: Midfielder
Nationality: South African
Thalente Mbatha has become an important midfield option for Orlando Pirates.
Although his current salary has not been officially revealed, his growing role at the club has made him one of the notable players in the squad.
8. Oswin Appollis
Estimated salary: Not publicly confirmed
Position: Winger/Forward
Nationality: South African
Oswin Appollis is among the younger attacking players associated with Pirates.
His individual salary has not been publicly confirmed, making it difficult to accurately place him in a strict salary ranking.
9. Tshepang Moremi
Estimated salary: Not publicly confirmed
Position: Forward
Nationality: South African
Tshepang Moremi is another player in the Pirates attacking group.
As with several younger players at the club, reliable information about his individual salary is not publicly available.
10. Other Senior Pirates Players
Several other established Orlando Pirates players may also rank among the club's better-paid footballers.
However, because their current contract details have not been publicly released, assigning them an exact salary would be speculative.
Orlando Pirates Salaries: What We Know
It is important to remember that there is no official Orlando Pirates salary list available to the public.
The figures published online generally come from media reports, football salary databases and estimates. They can therefore differ considerably from the actual amounts contained in players' contracts.
Player salaries can also include bonuses, signing-on fees, performance incentives and other benefits that are not reflected in a basic monthly salary.
Estimated Salary Table
| Rank | Player | Position | Estimated Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deon Hotto | Winger | R500,000 |
| 2 | Evidence Makgopa | Striker | R200,000 |
| 3 | Innocent Maela | Defender | R150,000 |
| 4 | Olisa Ndah | Defender | R107,000 |
| 5 | Tapelo Xoki | Defender | R100,000 |
| 6 | Relebohile Mofokeng | Midfielder/Winger | R80,000–R100,000 |
| 7 | Thalente Mbatha | Midfielder | Not disclosed |
| 8 | Oswin Appollis | Winger/Forward | Not disclosed |
| 9 | Tshepang Moremi | Forward | Not disclosed |
| 10 | Other senior players | Various | Not disclosed |
Final Word
Orlando Pirates remain one of the biggest spenders in South African football, but the club keeps individual contract details private.
As a result, the figures above should be viewed as reported estimates rather than official salaries. The actual earnings of the players may be higher or lower depending on their contracts, bonuses and other incentives.
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