Latest news with #ZeltMarais
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Zelt Marais banned: 10-year suspension ends WP Rugby election bid
Zelt Marais is ineligible to hold any position in South African rugby after being handed a 10-year suspension for misconduct. The Western Province RFU elections to fill vacancies on the executive committee takes place today, but former WP president Marais has been banned from holding office until 2034 following the ruling of an independent appeal panel. Also read: Kiewitz: Let's restore integrity to WP Rugby In an official press release announcing the finding, SA Rugby confirmed: 'Mr Marais was suspended for 10 years from any and all positions in the South African Rugby Union (Saru), or any other rugby body, and from any and all rugby activities for breaching the Saru Code of Conduct. 'He had been charged with misconduct following various statements made in communications to SA Rugby members and in public forums in 2022 and 2024. 'The Independent Appeal Panel's 61-page finding held that the sanction imposed by the judicial officer was 'well motivated, among other things for the gravity of the charges, the fact that the acts of misconduct were ongoing, by a very senior office bearer of a member union who was well aware of his duties and responsibilities towards SARU.' 'The panel said it and the judicial officer had taken into account 'the total lack of remorse on the part of the appellant, which continued right up to the appeal, his ongoing justification for his actions and in effect still claiming that he was fully entitled to say what he had said on the basis that that what had been stated was 'the truth''. 'There had been no apology for his conduct, and in particular no public apology for his public remarks. There was ongoing lack of remorse and every possibility that he would continue along this path unless sanctioned in the manner in which the judicial officer decided to sanction his conduct.' As a result of the finding, Marais is ineligible to hold any position in rugby until October 2034. The post Marais suspended from WP elections race appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Panel upholds disciplinary sanction against former WP rugby president Zelt Marais
Despite running in this year's elections, Zelt Marais will not be able to hold any positions in rugby for the next 10 years. Former Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais will not hold any positions in rugby until 2034. Picture: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images An independent appeal panel has upheld a disciplinary sanction of misconduct imposed on the former president of the Western Province Rugby Football Union, Zelt Marais, meaning he is ineligible to hold any rugby position at least until October 2034. This comes as the union is about to host its elections to choose a new president and executive council to lead the union out of a period of administrative turmoil. Marais ran in these elections. The former president was found guilty of several charges of misconduct, including bringing the game into disrepute and spreading misinformation, leading to the ban and a suspended R50,000 fine. The charges related to 'various statements made in communications to SA Rugby members and in public forums in 2022 and 2024', a media statement from the South African Rugby Union read. 'Total lack of remorse' 'Mr Marais was suspended for ten years from any and all positions in the South African Rugby Union (Saru), or any other Rugby Body, and from any and all rugby activities for breaching the Saru Code of Conduct,' Saru said. 'The independent appeal panel's 61-page finding held that the sanction imposed by the judicial officer was 'well motivated, among other things for the gravity of the charges, the fact that the acts of misconduct were ongoing, by a very senior office bearer of a member union who was well aware of his duties and responsibilities towards SARU'.' The panel said it and the judicial officer had taken into account 'the total lack of remorse on the part of the appellant, which continued right up to the appeal, his ongoing justification for his actions and in effect still claiming that he was fully entitled to say what he had said on the basis that that what had been stated was 'the truth'. 'There had been no apology for his conduct, and in particular, no public apology for his public remarks. There was ongoing lack of remorse and every possibility that he would continue along this path unless sanctioned in the manner in which the judicial officer decided to sanction his conduct.' As a result of the panel's finding, Marais is ineligible to hold any position in rugby until October 2034.
The South African
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Former WP Rugby president gets 10-year suspension
In a significant announcement from SA Rugby on Tuesday, an independent Appeal Panel has upheld a disciplinary sanction of misconduct imposed on Zelt Marais, formerly the president of the Western Province Rugby Football Union. He had been charged with misconduct following various statements made in communications to SA Rugby members and in public forums in 2022 and 2024. In upholding the sanction, Marais was suspended for 10 years from any and all positions in the South African Rugby Union (SARU), or any other rugby body, and from any and all rugby activities for breaching the SARU Code of Conduct. The Panel said it, and the Judicial Officer, had taken into account 'the total lack of remorse on the part of the appellant (Zelt Marais), which continued right up to the appeal, his ongoing justification for his actions and in effect still claiming that he was fully entitled to say what he had said on the basis that that what had been stated was 'the truth'. 'There had been no apology for his conduct, and in particular no public apology for his public remarks. There was ongoing lack of remorse and every possibility that he would continue along this path unless sanctioned in the manner in which the Judicial Officer decided to sanction his conduct.' The Independent Appeal Panel's 61-page finding held that the sanction imposed by the Judicial Officer was 'well motivated, among other things for the gravity of the charges, the fact that the acts of misconduct were ongoing, by a very senior office bearer of a member union who was well aware of his duties and responsibilities towards SARU.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
