Zelt: WPRFU won't he held to ransom
REACTION: Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais came out swinging on Saturday, in the wake of the latest fall-out over the ongoing Newlands property saga.
Marais accused people of 'selfish grandstanding', without articulating who they may be, and added that his union won't be held to ransom by anybody.
As @rugby365com reported, the South African Rugby Union has run out of patience with the embattled and almost bankrupt WPRFU.
This website obtained a letter, penned by Chief Executive Officer Jurie Roux, which revealed that SARU has withdrawn from and ended the existence of the WPRFU/SARU Advisory Committee.
This is likely the first significant step in SARU placing the WPRFU under administration.
The six-man WPRFU/SA Rugby advisory committee consisted of Marais, Patrick Kuhn (chairman), Samuel Ngumeni, Abubakar Saban, Ebrahim Rasool (Western Province Professional Rugby (Pty) Ltd) and Colin Moses.
In his closing statement, Roux makes it clear SARU will not hesitate to invoke clause 28 of the constitution.
* To read more on this, CLICK HERE!
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Marais, in response to a request from @rugby365com for comment, said the SARU decision - to pull the plug on the SARU/WPRFU advisory committee - is integral to all pending matters and will be discussed at the next WPRFU council meeting.
"WPRFU has, in the interim, requested for SARU to reconsider the matter," he said of the decision to 'terminate' the advisory committee.
"However, it is premature to provide comment on it, as the flow of events will ultimately ventilate the facts and not the selfish grandstanding," Marais said.
Asked for clarity on what he meant by the 'grandstanding' comment, Marais said: "Everything ought to be ventilated within the next two weeks or so.
"The WPRFU governance structures must be respected at all times and must not be undermined by anyone," the President told @rugby365com.
"No individual person is bigger than the game of rugby and [the] constitution, the MOI [Memorandum of Incorporation] and any other related document that governs it.
"It is important to lead WPRFU with integrity, without fear or favour," Marais added.
"WPRFU has a solid prime asset base and if managed responsibly will ensure that it remains a thriving and prosperous rugby organization for the next 100 years or so.
"Finally, WPRFU will not be bullied or held to ransom by anyone no matter what the threats.
"WPRFU will continue to be managed subject to the highest ethical standards and will always be beyond reproach."
Asked about the asset base, which is currently tied up in litigation with the Flyt/Dream World group, Marais said: "Everything is under firm control by our litigation team.
"We do not foresee a long, drawn-out saga.
"We will return to normality sooner, rather than later."
* Meanwhile, Marais said the vote of no confidence will be accordingly dealt with at the appropriate meeting.
A notice went out to all the clubs, members of the executive committee and other union structures to alert them to the meeting on Monday, September 20.
The only items on the agenda are the opening and welcome, obituaries and the 'Vote of no confidence in the President'.
As @rugby365com reported, last Monday (August 30) 21 clubs had filed letters in support of a vote of no confidence against Marais.
The WPRFU constitution requires 10 clubs to trigger a Special General Council meeting, for a vote of no confidence to be voted on.
“Throughout the past two years we have raised concerns over Zelt Marais’ administrative competence,” the clubs said in the letter.
They also questioned his “integrity” and his “lack of respect” for fellow executive members.
@king365ed
@rugby365com
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