The continued stalling of trying to find a buyer for the cash-strapped Western Province Rugby Football Union’s (WPRFU) Newlands Stadium and other assets could see the beleaguered union remain under administration for another two years, says a former official.
Last year, WPRFU clubs agreed to sell 75% of their professional arm (Western Province Professional Rugby) to the Red Disa consortium, which is headed up by Stellenbosch banking giant Michiel le Roux’s son Johan.
It was seen as a deal that would allow WPRFU to get themselves out under the administration of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), as affiliated clubs readied themselves to vote for new leadership on 25 November last year.
That vote never took place as days before the big meeting Peter Jooste, SARU appointed administrator for WPRFU, told clubs in a letter that the vote is postponed after certain criteria to take WPRFU out of administration were not met.
A former WPRFU official, who spoke to Telecomasia Sport under the promise of remaining anonymous, however, says a majority of clubs have now realised that the deal to sell a controlling share to Red Disa has left them worse off than when WPRFU was initially put under administration by SARU back in 2021.
Since 2021 and last year’s deal with Red Disa, WPRFU find themselves in more debt as, according to recent reports, they now owe Dreamworld Investments 401 approximately R250 million after an agreement with the aforementioned property developer to redevelop Newlands Stadium got reneged upon by former WPRFU president, Zelt Marais.
With the former WPRFU official telling this website:
There truly is a growing concern amongst clubs that they were fed lies about a buyer [for Newlands and other properties]. I can tell you now that there isn’t a potential buyer and according to clubs I have spoken to, they don’t see a need from SARU to try and sell our properties, because they have been left feeling robbed after selling a controlling share of the professional arm.
To them potential sale of Newlands feels like just another transaction where money in an already cash-strapped WPRFU coffer will be wasted.
Jooste, however, told Netwerk24 in a recent interview that there does exist a potential buyer for WPRFU’s properties but that certain agreements were yet to be put in place.
But the former WPRFU is adamant that a buyer for Newlands does not exist and says:
If there is a buyer as they claim, why have clubs not been properly informed? I don’t believe that one exists and could see the union remain under SARU control for a further two years.
It is of grave concern to clubs as they have no say in the future of WPRFU. If this continues we will be left with no union to properly run the grassroots game.
Telecomasia Sport also recently reported that clubs from Paarl that are affiliated to WPRFU are exploring avenues of joining the Boland Rugby Union.
