by Mike Krumboltz World Cup fans who watched South Africa hold on for a 1-1 draw against heavily favored Mexico last week may have wondered why people were chanting " Bafana Bafana " at the top of their lungs. The phrase was everywhere: On scarves, banners, and the lips of every South African fan in the crowd. So, what the heck does "bafana bafana" actually mean? Simply put, it means " the boys ." It's used as a nickname for the South African team because, as Manolith.