EP Rugby elections will take place — Rademan

Despite eligibility objections against several candidates, the EP Rugby Union’s annual meeting will take place as scheduled on Saturday, president Andre Rademan says.

Doubts about the meeting surfaced on Wednesday when presidential nominee Vernon Stuurman attended a marathon sevenhour eligibility hearing.

It has also emerged that a club has written to the EPRU questioning the eligibility of Rademan, Mbulelo Gidane (finances), Phillip Josephs (club affairs) and Lorinda Brown (game development).

Objections have also been lodged questioning whether Willie Blundin (candidate for deputy president) and Temba Maseti (finance portfolio) are eligible.

Stuurman was called to a hearing on Wednesday after three clubs objected to his nomination because he was on the board of the Southern Kings when they were liquidated.

An angry Stuurman has dismissed the objection as baseless and has called on SA Rugby to step in to oversee the election process.

A coalition led by Stuurman is vying for all positions on the executive and a hotly contested battle between him and Rademan is expected.

There will be elections for the position of president, deputy president, vice-president, finance, club affairs, provincial affairs and game development.

Rademan, who was not at the hearing on Wednesday, said the election must continue as scheduled on Saturday.

“The elections and annual meeting will take place as scheduled,” he said.

“I was not at Wednesday’s hearing and the objection against Stuurman standing was brought by three clubs.

“I had nothing to do with it.

“When I saw this I referred it to the auditors and lawyers, and told them to deal with it.”

Stuurman said he would continue his battle to topple Rademan.

“This is the first time I’ve heard that you must stand before a panel to decide whether you are eligible,” he said.

Rademan said: “I do not want to get involved in badmouthing ahead of the election and I think my record over the past four years speaks for itself.”

Stuurman said restoring credibility and accepting collective responsibility for constitutional reform formed part of his sevenpoint plan.

“No constitution should be punitive by nature,” he said.

“It’s supposed to equalise everyone who subscribes to it and to create an environment that’s conducive for what it’s meant for.

“We want repositioning of EP as a union in inter-province relations, SA rugby and world rugby.

“The union cannot exist as an island.” The line-up to contest the EPRU elections is:

President: Andre Rademan, Vernon Stuurman; Deputy president:

Maasdorp Cannon, Willie Blundin, Eben Coltman; Vice-president:

George Malgas, Henry Jeggels; Finance: Mbulelo Gidane, Temba

Maseti; Club affairs: Phillip Josephs, Theo Ketchim; Provincial affairs:

Freddie Makoki, Tony de Laura, Dennis January; Game development: Lorinda Brown, Amir Mpayipeli, Maasdorp Cannon.