Cleaning staff at the luxury hotel where England stayed during the World Cup stole uniform shirts, a medal and even underwear from players, police said on Monday.

All five cleaners have been sentenced to three years in prison and fined 6,000 rand ($A900).

Police spokeswoman Junior Metsi said very little cash was taken - about STG500 ($A860)). The thieves instead seemed interested in souvenirs, such as a United States uniform shirt an England player received in the customary post-match trade. A medal awarded by FIFA and underwear also disappeared in a spree police say began June 21.

The thefts were not reported to police until Saturday. Metsi said police solved the case within a day, searching the homes of hotel staff.

"Everything that was stolen was recovered and they (the thieves) are now behind bars," she said.

On Sunday, a special World Cup court convicted five hotel workers and sent them to prison.

Metsi would not name the players from whom items were stolen.

England made it to the round of 16, but exited Sunday after a 4-1 loss to Germany. The players were due to fly back to England late Monday.

England's World Cup headquarters was a state-of-the-art sports complex and hotel built by the Bafokeng tribe of northern South Africa and completed shortly before the tournament began.

The Bafokeng also own the Rustenburg stadium where World Cup games were played.

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