Is this the end of Jurie Roux?
Roux was tasked with 'head-hunting' a replacement for Heyneke Meyer, with an announcement expected after the South African Rugby Union general council meeting in March.
However, new developments in the Stellenbosch University's legal action against the SARU CEO, Roux, may force the national body into a rethink.
This follows reports in the Afrikaans media on Wednesday that Roux – according to a preliminary KPMG report – misappropriated funds by "manipulating" financial management systems and having used software that does not leave a "audit trail" to favour the rugby programme during his time at the university.
The university is suing Roux for ZAR35-million – the amount the they believe Roux used to help fund the Maties Rugby Club.
SARU initially gave the appearance of supporting Roux, with union President Oregan Hoskins saying: "There is a legal process in place and that should be allowed to run its course."
However, things changed dramatically in the last 24 hours and Hoskins appears to have had a change of heart.
"The Exco meeting on February 5 will discuss it," Hoskins told rugby365, when asked about the latest developments.
He added that it is the first scheduled meeting of the SARU executive committee for 2016.
The SARU boss described the charges – contained in the preliminary KPMG report – as "serious".
He added that they now have no option but to discuss the matter.
"It [the meeting] does become important, given the media reports," he told rugby365.
However, there is no indication what the process is beyond next Friday's meeting and whether Roux could be asked to step down – considering the escalating pressure.
"The Exco has to apply its mind to the media reports about Jurie," Hoskins added.
"I can't pre-empt the outcome."
Roux's lawyer, Frikkie Erasmus, maintains his client's innocence and said he will not comment on the allegations because it could negatively impact him in his legal battle with the university.
The alleged transgression occurred over a period of nine years, when Roux had access to the university's financial management system.
The KPMG report, according to Netwerk24, claims that Roux "hid" spending and "withheld" about ZAR35-million of the university's reserves from the university council.
According to court documents, Roux and a colleague, Chris de Beer (then the Deputy Director of student fees), worked together between 2002 and 2010 where they made "unauthorised" transfers from the university's reserve funds.
Roux left his job as Chairman of the Stellenbosch Rugby Club in 2010 to become SARU CEO.
De Beer was fired by the university in 2012.
SARU has been aware of the allegations against Roux for well over a year, but has stood by the embattled CEO – with Hoskins having said he is "happy" with Roux's explanation of the situation.
However, the latest developments may just force their hand at a time when they also face possible legal action from players in the Eastern Province Kings region.
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
