Zelt Marais could reportedly face a battle to keep his role as WP president as talk mounts around a motion of no-confidence from union clubs.
The latest in the behind-the-scenes boardroom saga comes a week after Marais was forced to backtrack on comments he made about the failed Investec-Remgro deal, the ongoing saga with developers Flyt, the move to Cape Town Stadium and the failed negotiations with MVM Holdings.
As reported by Sunday newspaper Rapport, one of Western Province’s clubs, Gordon’s Bay Pioneers, this week wrote a letter addressed to Marais requesting a special general meeting to discuss a motion of no confidence in his leadership of Western Province Rugby.
‘Since the start of your term as president, the union has experienced one crisis upon the other, accepting that most of it you inherited, but the lack of urgency and direction offered by you as our highest leader and as required by your constitution was not only costly to the union but the damage to our reputation on your watch must surely be irreparable and simply embarrassing,’ the letter read.
The WPRFU is set to hold it’s first special general meeting on 8 March, but that will reportedly only focus on electing a new vice-president to fill the position vacated by Spencer King. According to the WP constitution, at least 10 clubs need to show support in order to hold a special meeting.
This has come in the same week that Junaid Moerat, a prominent member of the WPRFU executive, was reportedly suspended by Marais on the same day that he was set to be unveiled as the new interim Chief Executive Officer of the WP Professional Rugby (Pty) Ltd this past week.
Meanwhile, it was recently confirmed that two independent directors had joined the WP Professional Rugby Board.
‘The additional Directors are two top female independent legal minds, Janine Myburgh and Melene Rossouw. It is expected that their appointment will support the drive to ensure governance stability and integrity,’ a statement read.
‘The WPPR Board boasts three female Independent Directors and the appointment of Rossouw and Myburgh secures it a majority of Independent Directors.’
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