Zelt invokes the power of President Ramaphosa in battle with SARU

EXCLUSIVE: Zelt Marais, the suspended President of the Western Province Rugby Football Union, is calling on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to ‘assist’ him in his battle with the South African Rugby Union.

In July this year, SARU confirmed that the already suspended WPRFU President has been slapped with a 12-month ban.

This came after he was first suspended when SARU placed the union under administration in October last year.

In March this year, SARU President Mark Alexander wrote to the WPRFU clubs and informed them that they will charge the controversial figure, Marais, with ‘misconduct’.

The hearing, which Marais did not attend, was completed in July.

“He was found guilty and suspended from holding office at WPRFU or SARU for 12 months – from July 21,” a SARU spokesman told @rugby365com.

However, Marais – still ‘acting’ as WPRFU President – has continued to battle against what he regards as a “draconian” organisation.

His latest strategy was to pen a letter to the President of the country, Ramaphosa, and also forward it to Beauty Dlulane, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation.

Marais confirmed to @rugby365com that he attended a Strategic Stakeholders Meeting of the ANC in Hanover Park this past Saturday, where the President was the keynote speaker.

“However, due to time constraints I was unable to deliver the speech and instead forwarded it to President Ramaphosa,” he said.

In his letter, Marais takes exception to what he calls the “unlawful administration” of SARU over WPRFU.

“Honourable President Ramaphosa, it must also be noted that SARU also grossly mislead and lied to the Parliamentary Sports Portfolio Committee,” Marais said in his letter.

“WP Rugby also requested for it to address the Sports Portfolio Committee, but its request was sadly not granted,” he added.

Zelt Marais’ letter in full follows below …

10 December 2022

MEETING WITH HONOURABLE PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA at VOORSPOED PRIMARY in HANOVER PARK

Honourable President Comrade Ramaphosa

On behalf of the WPRFU we feel honoured to be able to say a few words

It is so appropriate for you to address us on this International Human Rights Day

Hanover Park is close to my heart, having worked here for more than 3 years during my student days. I nevertheless only lived 4 km up the road, and only still 5km up the road from Hanover Park.

The Western Cape is Not only the most Racist but also the must Unequal Society in the world

Covid had a devastating effect on all of us, and specifically sports and entertainment that had the most severe and longest lockdowns in so much that for more than 27 months it could not earn any income.

Having scetched that background WPRFU had to bond its fixed properties that belongs to our 100 plus Community Clubs to fund almost half of the Springbok team and the Stormers Team that went on to win both the 2019 RWC and the first URC championship respectively.

Sadly the Big Business that we were engaging with were not honest in their dealings with us, in so much that they were not interested in doing a fair and transaction with WPRFU. Honourable President, we appeal for a commission enquiry and or an investigation into their strong handed and Kragdadigheid dealings when it comes to our 100’s of community clubs.

As the lockdown was not factored into any business model, the Stormers team were short +-R20 million to fulfill its commitments from Oct to December 2021.

SA Rugby, then applied a draconian resolution after misleading its Executive Council whom resolved to unlawfully placed WP Rugby under Administration.

WPRFU did not accept the unlawful administration, but nevertheless gave SA Rugby to investigate any fraud, corruption and or misappropriation of funds that would then give SA Rugby legitimate grounds to place WP Rugby under administration.

Nothing was found as expected, and an appeal was made for the unlawful administration to be uplifted.

Instead of negotiating with WP Rugby, it continued to only its unlawfully appointed Administrator to manage WP Rugby at great suffering to the thousands of community rugby players in the Western Province.

Honourable President Ramaphosa it must also be not that SA Rugby also grossly mislead and lied to the Parliamentary Sports Portfolio Committee.
WP Rugby also requested for it to address the Sports Portfolio Committee, but it’s requested was sadly Not granted.

Honourable President Ramaphosa, it is now more than 12 Months since WP Rugby has been placed under unlawful administration, and hence we kindly request that you arrange that all the relevant stakeholders meet as soon as possible so that the Executive Committee of WP Rugby could be placed back into their democratically elected positions.

We once again thank you Honourable President Ramaphosa for the opportunity to again with you today, and trust that you will us into fairness and equity in perpetuity.

God Bless
Zelt F Marais
PRESIDENT

@king365ed
@rugby365com

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