Clubs take WP Rugby Union to book

A CRICKET administrator who played a crucial role in the Khan Commission which whitewashed an inquiry into now disgraced cricket boss Gerald Majola is at the centre of a dispute over the Western Province Rugby Union’s financial performance.

John Bester served on the Khan Commission, which cleared Majola last year, giving him a warning after an internal inquiry into R4.7 million in bonuses paid to CSA staff in 2009.

Last week rugby clubs called for a meeting following the presentation of the WPRU’S financial statements.

Bester, as the union’s vicepresident and audit committee chairman, is responsible for its financial well-being.

At the meeting clubs refused to accept the financial statements, calling instead for a performance audit. The union’s books will now undergo further scrutiny. Bester is to provide “clarity” on some financial matters at a follow-up meeting.

The Cape Times has learnt that Collegians Rugby Club tabled the motion for an audit of the union’s books.

WPRU, which is 75.1 percent owned by the clubs, has not made a profit for several years, but reported a profit of just over R1 million for last year.

Clubs wanted to know why there had been such a large payout to the Marc Group, while their coffers had remained empty.

The Marc Group, which

owns 24.9% of WPRU, was paid R200 000 the previous financial year, but received R2m last year.

Another bone of contention is that the contract to sell and manage WPRU tickets was swapped from Computicket to Ticketpros without a tender. Ticketpros is owned by the Marc Group and is also the official ticketing partner of Cricket South Africa and the Blue Bulls.

Those responsible for the union’s finances will have to provide details at the next meeting.

But Francois Bonthuys, president of the Parow-based NNK Rugby Club who attended the meeting, said there was nothing sinister about the audit. “There are 90 clubs and each has a different agenda. This (audit) is to open up and see where we can improve.”

On Bester’s links to the CSA saga, he said the issue had come up at the meeting, but it wasn’t on the agenda.

Bester could not be reached for comment.

Newly elected WPRU president Thelo Wakefield denied there was unhappiness with the finances, but confirmed yesterday that Collegians had brought the motion to have an audit into the union’s financial performance. But he added that Collegians had withdraw its motion.

Collegians president Cassiem Smith confirmed that the club had withdrawn the motion. He said the delegates at the meeting were not “mandated” to make such a call.

Smith said that their concerns and questions about certain “discrepancies” would have to be addressed at the next meeting, but not in the form of an audit. He said Collegians would meet today to discuss the details.

Caledonian Roses representative Cassiem Jabaar confirmed that Bester would give clarity on the finances at the next meeting.

Gavin Sheldon of the University of Cape Town Rugby Club said: “We will be having an executive meeting where the matter of Western Province Rugby will be discussed.”