Emotions will be at boiling point when feuding EP Rugby officials gather in Gqeberha on July 27 to discuss whether the embattled union should bite the bullet and hold early elections.
EP Rugby’s reinstated acting president George Malgas has written to clubs informing them of the date of the key meeting which will attempt to end months of strife at the embattled union.
A venue for the summit meeting, where security will be on high alert, has not been decided on.
“At the meeting, clubs will decide what the way forward is,” Malgas said.
“In my view, we will probably ask them to allow us to set a date for full-blown elections.
“Once we have confirmed and committed to that date there will be a nomination process and we will go to elections sooner rather than later.
“We need to continue from where we stopped after I left in November.
“At that time I said we would need direction on whether we need to fill the vacancies that have been created in the interim and how do we go about it.
“Or do the clubs want us to proceed to a general election only in 2025?
“In other words, would we be able to co-opt to fill those vacancies in the meantime?
“After all the recent developments, the agenda has somewhat shifted and we will need to get a fresh mandate from the clubs in terms of what they want us to do.
“I am strongly advocating for clubs to go for a general election as soon as possible.”
Asked if he was concerned about security at the meeting, Malgas said: “I am confident we have bridged that gap but there will always be contestations and you will not get away from that.
“There will always be some clubs agreeing and some clubs disagreeing on some points so we must allow for debate.
“We have a commitment from SA Rugby that they will assist us in that process [security], which I am grateful for.
“They will ensure that at least there is some sort of order in the run-up elections and the attendance at the meeting.
“They will also be involved in the process and guiding so we have the mother body commitment that they will assist.
“There will be an executive meeting before the special general meeting.
“One of the things I want to discuss with the full executive is whether Gerald Antonie [former EPRU president] is still part of it.
“That is one of the decisions we have to take.
“Roger Serfontein [former deputy president] has resigned.”
At the meeting, clubs will be briefed on the high court order which ruled that Malgas be reinstated as the union’s acting president.
Judge Vuyokazi Noncembu ruled in Malgas’s favour after he lodged an application in April to have Antonie and his deputy, Serfontein, removed from office.
The judge also set aside a series of rulings made by EP Rugby which will have far-reaching implications for the union.
Malgas claimed the continued strife caused by Antonie and his group had already cost the city a rugby Test.
In his motivation to be restored as acting president, Malgas said: “The purpose of this application was to review and set aside a series of decisions taken by the executive committee and general council of EP Rugby which violate its constitution.
“The unconstitutional actions by several members of the respondents have caused chaos in EP Rugby’s administration and severe prejudice to those who play rugby in our province.
“I also sought to have my suspension as vice-president set aside.
“The plan was for the Springboks to play Portugal in Gqeberha on July 20, but this has been moved to Bloemfontein because of the instability of the EPRU.
“The strife caused by Antonie and his coterie has also destabilised the senior rugby teams and put the season in jeopardy.
“The strife has scared away sponsors.”
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