Sports minister calls for 'urgent' resolution in Jurie Roux, SA Rugby matter

Sports, Arts and Culture minister Nathi Mthethwa has impressed on SA Rugby to conclude the Jurie Roux matter with the necessary urgency in order to keep their organisation's integrity intact.

SA Rugby was grilled at a hearing in front of the Parliamentary Sports Portfolio committee on Tuesday where they were giving feedback on their chief executive officer's long-standing legal battle with his former employer, the University of Stellenbosch.

Mthethwa was happy with how SA Rugby was dealing with the matter, but said the fact the case has been dragging on means they needed to find a speedy, but legally secure resolution.

It's the first time Mthethwa has made pronouncements on this issue.

"Action must be taken on this particular matter and with urgency, taking into cognisance what they have said is the legal opinion from their lawyers," Mthethwa said.

"We are on par with how the portfolio committee is viewing the matter. I would say that this matter is damaging the image of rugby and there's no doubt about that.

"That's why we're emphasising this. We're not saying they shouldn't do things legally, but we want to see an accelerated pace and we want to see action taken."

Roux has been ordered to pay his former employer back R37 million because of monies he moved without consent during his time as a senior finance director between 2002 and 2010.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander admitted the organisation had been painted in a negative light through the process, but he remained firm on the legal opinions from Professor Michael Katz and Advocate Wim Trengrove remaining confidential, saying that it protects the organisation from a legal perspective.

SA Rugby received the opinion from Trengrove on 28 April, the day before their annual