Boland Rugby Boss Bennie van Rooi Apologises for Video Urging Clubs to Back PA Campaign
- Boland Rugby Union president Bennie van Rooi faced backlash after a video emerged showing him urging rugby club chairpersons to support his political campaign
- The ANC's Langeberg Sub-Region accused Van Rooi of conflating his rugby leadership role with the Patriotic Alliance's municipal election campaign
- SARU weighed in on the controversy, clarifying what rugby's constitution does and does not prohibit when it comes to political involvement
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Boland Rugby Union president Bennie van Rooi has issued a public apology after a video surfaced showing him urging rugby club chairpersons to back his Patriotic Alliance (PA) campaign ahead of the upcoming Langeberg municipal elections.
Van Rooi, who has been announced as the PA's mayoral candidate for Langeberg Municipality, was recorded addressing the leadership of local Boland rugby clubs at what he described as an informal gathering.
Van Rooi accepts responsibility
Speaking to Daily Voice, Van Rooi acknowledged that his judgement had failed him and that his actions did not meet the standard expected of a leader in his position.
"As leaders we sometimes make mistakes, and Saturday was one of those occasions where my judgement let me down. I accept full responsibility for my actions," he said.
He was clear that the video should not be read as an official position of the Boland Rugby Union. "I want to make it clear that my actions were in my personal capacity and not in my capacity as President of the Boland Rugby Union," Van Rooi said. He also extended an apology to individuals who appeared in the footage, saying he acknowledged that "the way the matter was handled affected and possibly disadvantaged the people who appear in the video."
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ANC demands recusal, SARU clarifies rules
The ANC's Langeberg Sub-Region responded sharply, saying it had noted "with serious concern" the content of the video. The party argued that Van Rooi's conduct conflicted with the Boland Rugby Union's own constitution, which requires the union to develop rugby "op 'n nie-politieke en demokratiese basis."
The ANC called on the Boland Rugby executive to reaffirm the union's non-political character and for Van Rooi to step back from rugby-related engagements while he remains an active mayoral candidate.
South African Rugby Union (SARU) spokesperson Andy Colquhoun offered a different perspective, noting that rugby's constitution does not bar individuals from holding political office or party membership.
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Source: Briefly News
