EP presidential candidate Stuurman appears at hearing

Rademan says tomorrow’s elections cannot be put on hold

Doubts have emerged as to whether tomorrow’s EP Rugby Union annual meeting will go ahead as planned after presidential candidate Vernon Stuurman appeared at a marathon sevenhour eligibility hearing.

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 in 2019.

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

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

A coalition led by Stuurman is vying for all positions on the executive, and a hotly contested battle between him and incumbent president Andre Rademan is expected when the elections take place.

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 tomorrow.

“The elections cannot be put on hold and they must carry on,” he said.

“This matter is now in hands of the auditors and lawyers, and they will make a ruling.

“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.

“I was there from 2-9pm on Wednesday.

“Obviously clubs backing me will retaliate and there could be objections to some of the other candidates nominated.

“This is not a conducive environment to have these elections.

“We should respect the democratic process of clubs.

“The clubs have a right to a very good environment when they have elections — not these funny things this current executive is trying to do.

“Let the clubs decide who they want to lead them and not an executive trying to eliminate candidates.

“The current executive is trying to cling to power.

“SA Rugby should be invited to come and oversee the elections.

“Saru cannot be sitting on the periphery any more and they must be part of the process.

“They must ensure the election is not tainted by anyone,” Stuurman said.

Insiders say a close battle is expected between Rademan and Stuurman for the EP hot seat.

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.

“I took the union over when it was in chaos, with R31 in the bank and no voting rights with SA Rugby and liquidation. “There was nothing right. “Then, in four years, we got clean financial audits and we have a positive bank balance, and we owe nobody money and are debt free.

“EP have everything in place like a union should function.”

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, Allan Grootboom; Club affairs: Phillip Josephs, Theo Ketchim; Provincial affairs: Freddie Makoki, Tony De Laura, Dennis January; and Game development: Lorinda Brown, Amir Mpayipeli, Maasdorp Cannon.