Well-known local businessman and erstwhile Winter Rose rugby player Zolile Tini has raised his hand as the sole challenger to Border Rugby Union (BRU) president Pumlani Mkolo at the upcoming elections set for February 21.
Tini’s lobbying group, who are going to the elections with a complete slate for all seven executive committee positions on offer, has described rugby on the Border as “dead and in crisis” under the leadership of Mkolo – who also serves as the ANC regional secretary for the Dr WB Rubusana region.
The lobby group led by Winter Rose chairman Zoyisile Mtumane said Mkolo and his entire “blind leading the blind” executive must be voted out of office.
In what is set to be a winner- takes-all election contest, Tini’s slate features Steve Haynes (deputy president); Simpiwe Tsipa (vice-president); Fred Darke (Premier League rep); Mfundo Macanda (first division). Zimasa Dlani and Martin September complete this camp as sub-unions representatives.
Their campaign centres around three major issues, namely: external funding – currently non-existent at BRU; transformation; and development, which they believe were ignored by the Mkolo-led executive voted into office three years ago.
Tini confirmed he would be in the running for the Border presidency but referred the Dispatch to Mtumane, whom he said was running his campaign.
Mtumane said top of the agenda was to usher in a Border Rugby that had a “cordial and close relationship” with business because “no right-thinking business people can throw their money at a union led by people with questionable credibility”.
“We need people with business acumen to run Border because with politicians running affairs we are going nowhere and we believe Mr Tini and Haynes – both seasoned business people – are the right people to take this union forward.”
Mkolo fired back, saying he was not interested in politicking.
“I am leading, unlike people who are contesting. And unfortunately I am not a populist, I work for the people and the work I do does not have to be acknowledged by the media.”
Mkolo promised he would address other issues relating to the upcoming elections at a press conference today.
On transformation, Mtumane accused the incumbent Border executive of being engaged in a witch-hunt to isolate minority groups. They believed transformation should be inclusive and merit-based “regardless of skin colour” because marginalising minority groups “equates to racism”.
He cited the current Bulldogs team saying players from top clubs such as the Old Boys were being ignored while the provincial team was “flooded by Swallows players”.
Businessman set to take on BRU president
Tini’s lobbying group, who are going to the elections with a complete slate for all seven executive committee positions on offer, has described rugby on the Border as “dead and in crisis” under the leadership of Mkolo – who also serves as the ANC regional secretary for the Dr WB Rubusana region.
The lobby group led by Winter Rose chairman Zoyisile Mtumane said Mkolo and his entire “blind leading the blind” executive must be voted out of office.
In what is set to be a winner- takes-all election contest, Tini’s slate features Steve Haynes (deputy president); Simpiwe Tsipa (vice-president); Fred Darke (Premier League rep); Mfundo Macanda (first division). Zimasa Dlani and Martin September complete this camp as sub-unions representatives.
Their campaign centres around three major issues, namely: external funding – currently non-existent at BRU; transformation; and development, which they believe were ignored by the Mkolo-led executive voted into office three years ago.
Tini confirmed he would be in the running for the Border presidency but referred the Dispatch to Mtumane, whom he said was running his campaign.
Mtumane said top of the agenda was to usher in a Border Rugby that had a “cordial and close relationship” with business because “no right-thinking business people can throw their money at a union led by people with questionable credibility”.
“We need people with business acumen to run Border because with politicians running affairs we are going nowhere and we believe Mr Tini and Haynes – both seasoned business people – are the right people to take this union forward.”
Mkolo fired back, saying he was not interested in politicking.
“I am leading, unlike people who are contesting. And unfortunately I am not a populist, I work for the people and the work I do does not have to be acknowledged by the media.”
Mkolo promised he would address other issues relating to the upcoming elections at a press conference today.
On transformation, Mtumane accused the incumbent Border executive of being engaged in a witch-hunt to isolate minority groups. They believed transformation should be inclusive and merit-based “regardless of skin colour” because marginalising minority groups “equates to racism”.
He cited the current Bulldogs team saying players from top clubs such as the Old Boys were being ignored while the provincial team was “flooded by Swallows players”.
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