The suspended president of the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) Zelt Marais broke his silence and has revealed his intention to approach the courts this week to challenge his suspension.
On Saturday, Marais told Weekend Argus that he would also try to overturn the decision to place Western Province under administration.
The province was placed under administration in October. SA Rugby then took full financial and operational control of Western Province Professional Rugby (WPPR) and its union.
Marais was stripped of his role as president, a move he has described as unlawful.
Watch: Suspended Western Province’s rugby boss #ZeltMarais break his silence @WP_RUGBY https://t.co/oaq44VzMLO
— Weekend Argus (@WeekendArgus) April 17, 2022
As part of the administrative takeover, former SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer was appointed as administrator.
Outside the Newlands Rugby stadium yesterday a frustrated Marais said:“We will be starting with the legal process with the ultimate aim of going to court in the next few days.
“This is in order to uplift the unlawful administration of WPRFU. We’ve been unjustly and unfairly placed under administration.
“We did write to the clubs in October asking them to cooperate with the process but nothing has materially happened or transpired and everybody is kept in the dark as there is no tangible plan and or timetable in place, and hence we don’t know where we are or where we are heading to.
“We need to reclaim Western Province Rugby and or to work alongside SARU as we did not commit any crime.”
Marais said he wanted justice to prevail and “as the president of WPRFU do what is best for community clubs.”
Trevor Arendse, who is part of Marais’ legal team, confirmed to they would take legal action.
“We are going to follow the legal route, it’s long overdue. We are serious about bringing this before our honourable court and we are of the view that we have a very strong case.”
President of the SA Rugby Union (Saru), Mark Alexander told Weekend Argus yesterday they would not hinder the process “in any way”.
"He (Marais) must exercise all legal options available. We will not stop him."
SA Rugby's chief executive Jurie Roux who is still in office despite having been ordered to pay back R37m to the University of Stellenbosch for the misappropriation of funds, referred Weekend Argus to his communication team. They had no comment
SA Rugby in March said it would charge Marais for bringing the fraternity into disrepute.
In the letter stating their intention to charge Marais, Alexander said the suspended president continued to “spread misinformation and pipe dreams based on unverified financial claims or any kind of due diligence, compounded by the illegitimate use of digital letterheads.”