The University of Stellenbosch’s case against SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux is likely to be heard in 2019.
According to Netwerk24, Western Cape High Court Judge Thandazwa Ndita recently declared the case as ready for a trial. A trial date is yet to be determined, but it is likely to only be in 2019.
The university is suing Roux for damages in excess of R35 million, the amount it believes Roux used to help fund the Maties Rugby Club while he served as its chairperson.
It was reported in January 2016 that Roux “manipulated” financial management systems to favour the rugby programme during his time at Stellenbosch.
He allegedly used software that would not leave an audit trail in making "unauthorised" transfers from Stellenbosch University's reserve funds to the Stellenbosch Rugby Club.
At the time, Netwerk24 reported that this occurred over a period of nine years when Roux had access to the university’s financial management system.
It came after a preliminary report by audit firm KPMG revealed that Roux “hid” spending and “withheld” about R35m of the university’s reserves from the university council. Roux reportedly referred to the money as “sparries”.
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.
There was also information obtained from the KPMG report which indicated that Roux may have gained personal benefit from the money paid to the Maties Rugby Club.
Roux left his job as chairperson of the Stellenbosch Rugby Club in 2010 to become SA Rugby CEO. His contract with SA Rugby was due to expire in 2015, but it was extended by five years in August 2014.