The South African Rugby Union (Saru) has complied with the demand by Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile that he be provided with a report outlining the way forward for rugby in South Africa.
Ministry spokesperson Mahlubandili Mageda confirmed on Monday that it had received a two-page fax from Saru, in accordance with the agreement reached at a meeting of the Saru president’s council on Friday.
Stofile warned Saru at the meeting to get its house in order or the government would step in and take over. He ordered Saru to present him with a plan for the way forward by noon on Monday.
The minister is expected to make a statement about the report on Tuesday.
The council agreed at the meeting to accept the recommendations of the Brandt-Heunis report on the affairs of rugby, and to implement these immediately. It also called on anyone with comments or complaints about the management of rugby to submit these in writing within 14 days, after which an independent investigation will be implemented.
Although there had been speculation before the president’s council meeting that Saru president Brian van Rooyen would be asked to resign, Van Rooyen survived the eight-hour meeting and stated emphatically that he was still in charge.
”I’m still president of South African rugby,” he said after the meeting.
Meanwhile, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) called on Monday for the management of rugby to be disbanded.
”The people of South Africa can no longer tolerate the ongoing problems affecting South African rugby,” said the ANCYL. ”For some time, our people have watched helplessly as South African rugby moved from crisis to crisis, demonstrating the management’s inability to resolve their own differences.
”We therefore demand that all those in the management of South African rugby resign with immediate effect. Should they fail to do so, the ANCYL and all our rugby-loving people would be compelled to ask the minister of sport to intervene.” — Sapa