WPRFU: SARU dragged to court in another public spat
UPDATE: The South African Rugby Union may have thought they had rid themselves of the troublesome Western Province Rugby Union, by lifting the administration.
However, they will find themselves back in court this coming week in another case involving WPRFU.
La Motte, a community-based club from a village of 1,500 people in Franschhoek, has challenged a decision by WPRFU to prevent them from affiliating to the Boland Rugby Union.
The case has been set for the High Court of South Africa, Western Cape Division, next Tuesday, May 6.
The club is seeking urgent legal relief to compel its reinstatement into the BRU league and a formal declaration of its membership rights.
The respondents in the case are the Boland Rugby Union, Western Province Rugby Football Union, South African Rugby Football Union, Kobus Vergotine, Danny Jones and Faizel Felton.
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The latter two were heavily involved during SARU’s period of administration of WPRFU, from October 2021 till last Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
The administration was lifted this past Wednesday, when Kevin Kiewits was elected President of WPRFU at a Special General Council meeting.
Moneeb Levy was elected in the role of Deputy President, and Shamila Sulayman is the new Vice-President. Achmat Jacobs, Andre Kermis, Anton Schelhase, Francois Bonthuys, Bulelani Mlakalaka, Siyabonga Hani, Ruben Machelm, and Riaaz Khan are the eight additional members.
The big losers were Ronald Bantom and Zelt Marais, both of whom were nominated to oppose Kiewits.
Bantom failed to win a position anywhere on the ExCo, while Marais was prevented from standing in the elections when an appeals committee ruled against him, and in favour of the 10-year ban imposed by SARU
However, the peace that settled over the Cape Town-based union will be short-lived.
La Motte, one of three clubs involved in the dispute, has gone the legal route in a dispute that has been simmering since last year.
The other clubs are Cloetesville Rugby in Stellenbosch and the Paarl club.
They informed WPRFU that they wish to affiliate with Boland.
Paarl is currently playing in the Boland Social League as a non-affiliated club.
La Motte and Cloetesville were initially accepted as full members of Boland.
However, the WPRFU opposed Cloetesville and La Motte’s affiliation with Boland, citing geographical boundaries.
In a hard-hitting statement issued to @rugby365com, La Motte accused WPRFU of ‘exerting behind-the-scenes pressure’ on BRU to block their participation and a ‘blatantly unlawful abuse of power’.
“Our players have trained for years to compete on this level,” Reginald Pheiffer, La Motte club secretary, said.
“To have that dream stolen, not on the field but in secret meetings and legal loopholes, is a betrayal of everything sport is meant to stand for.”
At the heart of the dispute is a controversial claim by WPRFU that La Motte falls under its control – based on outdated, ‘apartheid-era’ geographical boundaries.
La Motte argues that since 2005, it has officially formed part of the Cape Winelands District, a region governed by the BRU under its current constitution.
“Efforts to resolve the issue amicably – including mediation and engagement with SARU – have failed,” La Motte said in a statement.
“The club says it has been repeatedly ignored, and key decisions about its future were made behind closed doors, without its knowledge or participation.”
La Motte also claims that a February 2025 meeting between WPRFU and BRU officials – held in secret – resulted in the unlawful reversal of its BRU membership.
“This is more than a rugby club,” said a community member.
“It’s a safe space, a source of pride, and a lifeline for our youth. The injustice we’re facing is robbing our children of opportunity.”
La Motte’s legal team has also noted with concern that Paarl Rugby Club – one of the oldest in the country – faces similar roadblocks in its attempt to join Boland Rugby.
The pattern suggests a broader crisis in rugby governance that demands national attention.
“The use of apartheid-era boundaries to block community clubs in 2025 is a stain on the game,” said Pheiffer.
“We are not just fighting for our place on the field. We are fighting for fairness, dignity and the right to belong.”
@king365ed
@rugby365com
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