Media leaks ‘treasonous’

Western Province rugby president Zelt Marais has lashed out at colleagues he believes are giving information to journalists and labelled the leaks “treasonous acts”.

Marais has been feeling the heat over the last few months as the union’s torrid financial affairs have come into focus.

In the absence of a CEO at the union‚ Marais has had to shoulder some of the responsibilities a president would not ordinarily be tasked with‚ and with it has come a considerable amount of flak.

The rebukes have been so stinging that Marais felt obliged to issue a rambling statement that included quotes by former US president Barack Obama.

“I want to express my extreme disappointment and report to you that officials you elected and/or appointed to the leadership structures of WP Rugby chose to serve the organisation through the media.”

Marais said “the majority of our members serving the union at these levels find the behaviour of members that make themselves guilty of such treasonous acts as disgraceful and unbecoming of a leader”.

Marais has been at the forefront of Western Province’s negotiations with property developers who will help settle their debt with Remgro and Investec Property. He has been the point person in the union’s talks with a potential New York-based equity partner who wants to buy the majority share in the professional arm of the union for around R100m.

It is the former deal, in which WP is to receive a loan of R112m from Dream World Investments‚ a subsidiary in the Flyt group, that has ruffled feathers in the Mother City. Marais has been criticised from within WP’s ranks‚ especially for the way in which their agreement with Investec collapsed.