Zelt puts his hand up for WPRFU elections

NEWS: The Western Province Rugby Football Union will hold it’s first elections in years on April 30.

The South African Rugby Union-appointed administrator, Peter Jooste, confirmed in writing to the 90-odd clubs that a Special General Meeting of the union will be held at the Cape Town Stadium.

The main point on the agenda is to ‘fill the vacancies on the Executive Committee’.

It will be the first time since 2018 that the position of President has been contested and the first time since early 2021 (a by-election for vice-president) that any position will be contested.

On 12 October 2021, the South African Rugby Union placed WPRFU under administration in terms of clause 29.5.3 of the SARU constitution, in view of the fact that the WPRFU and its commercial arm, Stormers Rugby (Pty) Ltd, were on the brink of bankruptcy.

Controversial former President Zelt Marais, who was in the hot seat when SARU took control more than three years ago, confirmed to @rugby365com that he was ‘available and will be standing in the upcoming WPRFU elections’.

However, neither Marais nor SARU could confirm the status of his appeal against the 10-year ban he was handed in October last year.

He maintains he is the rightful President since no elections have been held – a stance SARU vehemently opposes.

Apart from Marais, there are three candidates for the vacant position of WPRFU President – Kevin Kiewitz, Ronald Bantom and Ruben MacHelm.

The latter, MacHelm, is a former associate of Marais, while the former two were adversaries of Marais in the tumultuous period that preceded WPRFU being placed under administration in October 2021.

Kiewitz, an attorney specialising in conveyance and property management, resigned as an executive committee member in June 2020.

In 2021 Bantom replaced Spencer King as vice-president during a ‘by-election’.

Jooste, who opposed Marais in the 2018 presidential elections, did not respond to an enquiry about his availability for the top post.

However, the annexures to his notice of the SGM, revealed that he will delegated by SARU to oversee the transition from administration to a ‘functioning’ union until June.

“The WPRFU ExCo will cooperate with Peter Jooste [who is engaged as a consultant by SARU] to support and guide the WPRFU until June 30, as it transitions out of administration and assumes responsibility for the governance of its affairs in compliance with the SARU Constitution,” the notice said.

“SARU is satisfied that measures have been implemented to stabilise the financial position of the WPRFU and Stormers Rugby and to bring their financial affairs in order.

“In the course of carrying out his functions as the administrator, Peter Jooste has acquired knowledge and understanding of the WPRFU’s administrative and business affairs and has established sound working relationships with key stakeholders in the negotiations aimed at the disposal of Newlands stadium and at resolving the pending litigation.

“In the circumstances, SARU and the WPRFU believe that the ongoing involvement of Jooste in these negotiations would be important and beneficial with a view to concluding such negotiations expeditiously and on terms favourable to the WPRFU.

“As such, SARU, the administrator and WPRFU have agreed that Jooste will be retained by SARU, at WPRFU’s cost, until June 30 to oversee and facilitate these negotiations and the transition of WPRFU out of administration.”

@king365ed
@rugby365com

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