Johannesburg – On the morning that South African rugby is celebrating an incredible Springbok Rugby Championship victory over Australia in Sydney, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux is reportedly on his way out of office after six years of legal fights with Stellenbosch University, his former employer.
According to the Sunday tabloid Rapport, Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa exerted pressure on SA Rugby to expedite Roux’s exit from the governing body. Roux lost his appeal against the guilty judgement in the case involving the embezzlement of R37 million from the Stellenbosch University finance department between 2002 and 2010.
Roux was compelled to repay the misappropriated funds to the institution, despite the fact that he never took money for personal gain.
Roux has never indicated a desire to quit from his role as CEO of SA Rugby, and he is under contract until the conclusion of the World Cup in France in 2019, but minister Mthethwa apparently believes his situation is untenable and that he must vacate his post by the end of the year.
Roux is supported by the board of SA Rugby, and SA Rugby president Mark Alexander defended Roux’s non-suspension by noting that the infraction did not occur while Roux was employed by SA Rugby.
Alexander informed the media earlier this year, “It must be recalled that this incident occurred with his former employment and not with SA Rugby.”
“It is not as straightforward as if he had worked for SA Rugby; there were other choices we had to consider, and we must adhere to proper procedures.
“You cannot suspend a person for an incident that occurred in another organization.”
Now, though, it appears that pressure from the very top has forced SA Rugby’s hand, and Roux will shortly clear his desk.