East London Police Rugby Club has turned a new leaf after members elected a new executive following an unpleasant period with outgoing president Hansie Dewing who allegedly failed to act in the club’s and players best interests.
This was said during their special annual general meeting at the EL Police Park Clubhouse in Vincent on Friday.
Top of the agenda was the removal of club president Dewing who the players alleged he had turned the club revenue streams into his own family business. He had also stopped investing in the players in terms of stipends and providing transport costs.
Dewing, who was absent, is said to over the years misused what was generated into the coffers from the events hosted at the clubhouse.
The billboard worth R100000 which has been bearing a popular cider advert with an estimated revenue of the plus minus R30000 per month was among the issues discussed.
The members who constituted 30 players and two fans of the club said they continued with the meeting in the absence of the president, as it was allowed by the club’s constitution.
“Prior to this we had exhausted all the available channels for us to engage Mr Dewing as the other executive members had abandoned their roles in the team,” said player and incoming president Bonga Mtunjana.
Another pertinent issue tackled at the meeting was the appointment of the stadium management which members alleged was not aboveboard.
“Mr Dewing appointed his son-in-law to be stadium manager and we don’t know how that happened. Because there was no transparency in the entire process.
“There’s not even a speed-point at the clubhouse bar which is a worrying factor because of the cash-flow,” said player and incoming treasurer, Loyiso Ndaba.
Thirty-three members signed the attendance register and doubled the required quorum needed per the constitution to have the AGM and its decisions legal and binding.
One of the resolutions taken at the meeting was to allow all revenue streams of the club to be administered by the new executive.
The club’s constitution was also amended with the members agreeing to keep the name of the club the same. But they removed the name ‘SAPS members’ and they would be ‘member’. So that any member of the community could apply to join the team subject to approval by the executive.
The new executive has been enthusiastically voted in. Mtunjana was elected club president, Sivuyile Yawa was elected deputy president. Kuhle Thumane is the new secretary, Loyiso Ndaba as treasurer, Mbulelo Mtyoko is now club captain. Andiswa Ntunjana and Vumile Tanana are the new additional executive members.
“We’ve got an exciting 2018 season what makes it exciting is that all the big games are here at Police Park and that gives us a chance to aim to play in the Gold Cup. And yes a lot has happened in 2017 of which the players felt that couldn’t do it anymore and others even left because of the things that were happening in the team.”
Mtunjana said tomorrow they would have made coaching staff appointment, but couldn’t confirm those would be permanent or otherwise.
“I can’t promise they will be permanent but we will have someone on Tuesday train the players. As regards to Mr Dewing – we don’t want to fight him.
“We just want to play rugby but things must done properly, and all we want from Hansie is a proper handover to us.
“He’s time is gone and what we expect from him to come and hand over the club’s belongings. Then we can run the club smoothly because we supported him during his term, but if he refuses to do so – we are prepared to go to the highest court in the land,” he said.
Police club fires salvo at outgoing president at indaba
This was said during their special annual general meeting at the EL Police Park Clubhouse in Vincent on Friday.
Top of the agenda was the removal of club president Dewing who the players alleged he had turned the club revenue streams into his own family business. He had also stopped investing in the players in terms of stipends and providing transport costs.
Dewing, who was absent, is said to over the years misused what was generated into the coffers from the events hosted at the clubhouse.
The billboard worth R100000 which has been bearing a popular cider advert with an estimated revenue of the plus minus R30000 per month was among the issues discussed.
The members who constituted 30 players and two fans of the club said they continued with the meeting in the absence of the president, as it was allowed by the club’s constitution.
“Prior to this we had exhausted all the available channels for us to engage Mr Dewing as the other executive members had abandoned their roles in the team,” said player and incoming president Bonga Mtunjana.
Another pertinent issue tackled at the meeting was the appointment of the stadium management which members alleged was not aboveboard.
“Mr Dewing appointed his son-in-law to be stadium manager and we don’t know how that happened. Because there was no transparency in the entire process.
“There’s not even a speed-point at the clubhouse bar which is a worrying factor because of the cash-flow,” said player and incoming treasurer, Loyiso Ndaba.
Thirty-three members signed the attendance register and doubled the required quorum needed per the constitution to have the AGM and its decisions legal and binding.
One of the resolutions taken at the meeting was to allow all revenue streams of the club to be administered by the new executive.
The club’s constitution was also amended with the members agreeing to keep the name of the club the same. But they removed the name ‘SAPS members’ and they would be ‘member’. So that any member of the community could apply to join the team subject to approval by the executive.
The new executive has been enthusiastically voted in. Mtunjana was elected club president, Sivuyile Yawa was elected deputy president. Kuhle Thumane is the new secretary, Loyiso Ndaba as treasurer, Mbulelo Mtyoko is now club captain. Andiswa Ntunjana and Vumile Tanana are the new additional executive members.
“We’ve got an exciting 2018 season what makes it exciting is that all the big games are here at Police Park and that gives us a chance to aim to play in the Gold Cup. And yes a lot has happened in 2017 of which the players felt that couldn’t do it anymore and others even left because of the things that were happening in the team.”
Mtunjana said tomorrow they would have made coaching staff appointment, but couldn’t confirm those would be permanent or otherwise.
“I can’t promise they will be permanent but we will have someone on Tuesday train the players. As regards to Mr Dewing – we don’t want to fight him.
“We just want to play rugby but things must done properly, and all we want from Hansie is a proper handover to us.
“He’s time is gone and what we expect from him to come and hand over the club’s belongings. Then we can run the club smoothly because we supported him during his term, but if he refuses to do so – we are prepared to go to the highest court in the land,” he said.
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