The president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru), Brian van Rooyen, survived an eight-hour president’s council meeting on Friday, and remains at the helm of rugby in South Africa.
Van Rooyen said after the meeting, which was attended by Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile and his deputy, Gert Oosthuizen, that his position was been discussed and there was no vote of no confidence.
”We came here to discuss matters of rugby,” said Van Rooyen. ”I’m a bit concerned that every time there’s a president’s council meeting, my position as president of South African rugby is called into question.”
Van Rooyen confirmed the announcement by Oosthuizen that the council agreed unanimously to accept the recommendations of the Brandt-Heunis report on the affairs of rugby, and to implement those recommendations immediately.
Any person with complaints or comments to make regarding the administration of rugby should do so in writing to Adri Brandt, of the law firm De Klerk and Van Gent, within the next 14 days.
Oosthuizen said that once these have been received, an independent investigation into the affairs of rugby will be implemented, Van Rooyen said he hopes these measures will put an end to the constant bickering within rugby.
He also announced that the management committee is to be enlarged, with Tobie Titus and Jannie Ferreira representing the larger unions, and Monwabisi Yaku and James Stofberg representing the smaller unions.
Earlier on Friday, the sports minister said he had told Saru to get its house in order, or the government would step in.
He said he had told Saru that it must restore the integrity of rugby, and put an end to the emotional upheaval in the sport in South Africa.
”This is the ninth time that the government has had to intervene in the affairs of rugby,” he said. ”I hope this is the last time. As far as there are allegations of misdemeanours, they must take responsible and appropriate decisions. If they can’t do that, then the government must take over. Sport is a national asset, and must be protected as such.
”This all affects our integrity. We have applied to host the Rugby World Cup in 2011, and we must be able to reassure the international rugby community that South Africa is capable of doing things right.”
It is not clear how long Van Rooyen can survive as president of Saru. The Brandt-Heunis report found him and Saru guilty of poor corporate management, and several unions indicated before Friday’s meeting that they would call for his resignation. — Sapa