Stuart Hess
AT least two of the investigators working on Sports Minister Steve Tshwete’s probe into South African rugby can draw on extensive inside knowledge of the sport’s administration.
The investigation into the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) faltered last week when it emerged that the 500-page dossier containing the central allegations against Sarfu mainly contained press clippings.
However, Michael Katz, appointed to the investigating team to look into Sarfu’s tax records, should bring some insight from his time as a director of Ellis Park Stadium – the company which controls the Transvaal Rugby Football Union’s financial affairs.
Katz this week confirmed he was a director when the company was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, but had resigned “years ago”.
Sports Department Director General Mthobi Tyamzashe, who is leading the task team, is a long-time friend of Mluleki George, Sarfu’s senior vice-president. Tyamzashe called the Mail & Guardian this week to determine whether allegations against George were being checked; George was sitting in the director general’s office at the time.
Even corporate governance guru Mervyn King, another task team member, may have more than a passing interest in the sport.
Listed media group Primedia, where the former judge was a non-executive director until six weeks ago, recently bought 50% of Megapro Marketing, the marketing firm which has enjoyed lucrative commission payments for sponsorships it arranged for Sarfu.
The task team, which also includes senior advocate Gilbert Marcus and ANC member Malindi Gcina, was expecting to hear this week whether Sarfu would co-operate with its efforts.