SARU must consider EP Southern Kings financial administration

24 July 2015

Recent reports that the Eastern Province Southern Kings are facing significant challenges in paying salaries, must be decisively dealt with to ensure the sustainable management of the Eastern Cape rugby franchise. 

For the sake of rugby development in the Eastern Cape, the DA will write to the CEO of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), Jurie Roux, to request that SARU send a team to the Eastern Cape to investigate and assess if the franchise needs to be placed under administration.

Allegations have surfaced that the previous head coach, Carlos Spenser, who recently parted ways with the Kings, did so because he had not been paid his wages since December 2014. 

It is also alleged that players have not been paid. 

EP Rugby President, Cheeky Watson, confirmed yesterday that the club has experienced a delay in paying July’s salaries, “due to a delay in the sponsorship administrative process”.

The creation of the EP Southern Kings was formally announced in June 2009 and the team is therefore relatively young. It would be a great loss if it was to face an inability to continue the growth of Eastern Cape rugby through financial failure.

The DA believes that SARU has a duty to do all it can to steady the ship, and an investigation into possible administration is the first necessary step.

Statement issued by Darren Bergman MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation, July 24 2015