The president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), Moss Mashishi, announced on Wednesday that Sascoc has appointed a three-member committee to run the affairs of rugby until the extraordinary meeting of the general council of the South African Rugby Union (Saru) on June 17.
The three members of the committee are the chairperson, Oregan Hoskins, who is a member of the Saru president’s council; Mpumelelo Tshome, an independent director and member of the audit committee of Saru; and Bob Tucker, an executive member of Sascoc.
Mashishi said the committee was appointed after five members of the management structure of Saru — including deputy president Andre Markgraaff, vice-president Mike Stofile and the chairperson of the board, Theunie Lategan — resigned on Wednesday, in accordance with the call on Tuesday by Sascoc and the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhenkesi Stofile.
Mashishi said Sascoc has taken these drastic measures in an attempt to bring about a speedy end to the current crisis in South African rugby.
”Sascoc’s only concern is the speedy normalisation of the affairs of rugby,” he said. ”We want to create the kind of environment where the election of a new management structure can take place in a peaceful and orderly fashion.
”These drastic measures have been precipitated by what has happened in the past few days. Over the weekend, allegations were made against Brian van Rooyen [the president of Saru]. We accept that these allegations are untested, but they need to be investigated.”
Van Rooyen has so far insisted that he will not step down from his position as Saru president. Mashishi said no action will be taken until the close of business on Thursday, when Sascoc’s deadline for the resignation of the Saru management structure expires, but he refused to be drawn on what action Sascoc will take if Van Rooyen refuses to resign.
He said Sascoc is entitled, in accordance with the provisions of the Sascoc constitution, to take action if it feels that the affairs of an affiliate requires this.
Mashishi confirmed that he will address the meeting of the Saru president’s council to be held at Ellis Park on Thursday morning.
”I think it is important for the presidents of the provinces to find out why we have acted as we have.”
The embattled Van Rooyen is expected to try to rally support from the provinces at the president’s council meeting. — Sapa