SA Rugby boss Jurie Roux loses appeal

SA Rugby Union (SARU) chief executive Jurie Roux has lost an appeal and been ordered to repay R37 million, which an arbitrator found had been misappropriated from the coffers of Stellenbosch University during his tenure at the institution's finance department. 

The Arbitration Appeal Tribunal panel said: "Mr Roux's strategy was in various instances glaringly evasive, consisting, as it did, of reams of bald denials in his ultimately amended plea. His evidence was no different - evasive and argumentative, and smacked of sophism."

The panel comprised of retired SCA deputy president Judge Louis Harms, Chris Eloff SC and Mike van der Nest SC.

Between 2002 and 2010, Roux had held senior positions in the university's finance department, and had been accused of manipulating the electronic accounting system to channel millions in un-budgeted expenditure to the Maties rugby club.

While rising through the ranks of the university's administration, Roux was also installed in leadership positions at the rugby club.

Roux took the helm at SARU in 2013, the same year audit firm KPMG submitted a preliminary report - which delved into Roux's splurge - to the university, which found that he manipulated the finance system to make the payments.

Auditors also made adverse findings against Roux's friend and former colleague, Chris de Beer, who also straddled leadership positions in the university's finance department and rugby club.

News24 reported that after a protracted legal skirmish, Roux and the university agreed to have their dispute arbitrated by advocate Alasdair Sholto-Douglas SC in a series of closed-door sittings, which began in late 2019.

The Arbitration Appeal Tribunal panel this week dismissed appeals by Roux and De Beer against the award made in favour of the university in December 2020 by a single arbitrator.

Roux must pay the university R37 116 402 plus interest from the date of summons, while De Beer must pay R1 904  511.

They must also pay the university's legal costs.

"Stellenbosch University is pleased that this matter has been successfully concluded, with awards in its favour on all its claims. These claims arose from SU's commitment to good corporate governance," said Prof Stan du Plessis, the university's Chief Operating Officer.

Media are advised that a review of the outcome of the appeal into the arbitration hearing between Jurie Roux and his former employer, the University of Stellenbosch, remains ongoing.

The legal process between Roux and the University of Stellenbosch continues following the filing of an application on 3 March in the Western Cape Division of the High Court for a review and setting aside of both the final arbitration award as well as the award of the Appeal Tribunal against him.

Although SARU is not a party to the case, we understand the public interest in the matter considering Roux’s position as CEO of SARU.

SARU has sought and received the input from an eminent legal team throughout this matter which is currently considering the recent developments. Key stakeholders of SARU are being kept informed of developments.