Sharks bigwig suspended

 

The executive involved has been with the Sharks for over 21 years and received the high level promotion at the same time that CEO John Smit joined the franchise.

 

The Sharks have begun their own official procedures with the executive who has not been named as yet.

 

News of the allegations surfaced in May after auditing company KPMG picked up the financial issues.

 

The Sharks have not released much detail on the matter, with a spokesperson for the Durban-based team telling rugby365 that they had nothing further to add on the matter and that as reported, there is an on-going internal hearing and should there be any information of public interest they will only make a statement at the conclusion of the hearing.

 

Previous reports have said the allegations involve the issuing of unauthorised benefits.

 

KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union President Graham Mackenzie confirmed the official’s suspension, but could not disclose any details.

 

He said the union had no intention of staying silent, but had to wait until the process was over.

 

“There is a legal procedure under way, so we cannot report on anything at the moment,” Mackenzie said.

 

“But we have said that we want to be transparent and so when the process is complete we will make a statement.”

 

He said the official had the right to appeal against an unfavourable ruling.

 

Former Sharks Chief Executive Brian van Zyl remains in the dark over the report even though the allegations were said to have occurred when he was in charge of the franchise.

 

Last Friday Van Zyl said he was “still annoyed” that his name had been brought into the matter without his having been privy to the report’s contents.

 

“I was not involved in the suspension… I wasn’t even part of the committee that was examining the report,” Van Zyl said.

 

As far as he was aware, the allegations involved issues “of a housekeeping nature” and the payment of commissions.

 

Van Zyl, who retired as chief executive last year after taking the reins in 1994, reiterated his belief that the investigation’s findings should be made known to him since his tenure at the Sharks had been associated with the matter.