VIDEO: Parliament to 'scrutinise' SARU's books

Yesterday at 03:53 AM

The South African Rugby Union's financial has been put under the spotlight and will be scrutinised in the not too distant future.

The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture Chairperson, Joe McGluwa, said they have an 'appetite' to meet with SARU again.

McGluwa's committee met with SARU just two days before a special general council voted #NO for the US$75-million (ZAR1.3-billion) equity deal with the American-based equity consortium, trading under the banner of 'Win-by-1'.

There are renewed questions around a company operated by SARU CEO Rian Oberholzer's son, which was appointed to organise the Springboks' Tests against Ireland last year.

The same company was also in the running to host all matches at the Cape Town stadium if the much-maligned ASG deal went through.

Members of the Portfolio Committee on Sports raised their scepticism about these developments at the meeting with SARU on December 4.

However, McGluwa said that while they want to 'scrutinise 'SARU's books and meet with them again, it will not before an equity deal is finalised.

(WATCH as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Joe McGluwa, reveals their plans for the 'way forward' in the SARU equity saga.....)

"This deal has the potential to divide South Africans," the Portfolio Committee Chairman said.

"We can not allow this deal to divide the country.

"We call on South Africans to stay calm," he said ahead of a February 6 SARU council meeting at which the four franchises – Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions – will combine to present a united front when the latest equity deal is formally put on the table.

"We are also calling on SARU to keep us informed [about the latest developments]."

McGluwa reiterated an earlier statement that the Springbok is a national asset that belongs to the whole country, not just a small group at SARU's HQ at Plattekloof.

"We have the right to know and there is legislation that speaks to how SARU has to behave and for that reason we have an interest to meet with them again."

He added that SARU has invited them to visit Plattekloof.

"There is a need for us to dive deep into their financial statements," the Portfolio Committee Chairman said.

"We must have a complete understanding of what is transpiring there [at SARU HQ]."

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