Following The Ackerley Sports Group’s (ASG) renewed bid to buy a 20% stake in the commercial interests of the Springboks on Monday, SA minister of sport Gayton McKenzie has voiced his disapproval of the potential deal.
In early December, The SA Rugby Union (Saru) on Friday confirmed it had rejected a proposal of a private equity deal worth R1.3 billion for South African rugby’s commercial rights.
The proposal did not manage the 10 votes out of the 13 SA rugby unions needed to approve the move. Only seven member unions voted in favour of the proposal.
Saru, however, did specify that ASG would still be the preferred bidder and will have the right to make a new offer by the end of the month if the two bodies are to come to an agreement.
On Monday, it emerged that an SA consortium is now in the market including business heavyweights Johann Rupert, Sharks owner Marco Masotti, and Stormers owner Johan le Roux.
ASG said it would be open to discussions about a partnership with a South African consortium.
McKenzie, though, urged SA Rugby against making any kind of deal over the commercial rights.
“This deal has divided South Africans and taken the gloss away from the on-field successes of the Springboks,” McKenzie told News24 at Newlands.
“What has happened in the boardroom has taken away what the players have done. I think the time has come for us to move on.
“SA Rugby must find alternative sources of revenue and they must just kill this thing because it has caused a lot of unnecessary fighting, division, and strife.
“SA Rugby must think outside of the box and I have faith in SA Rugby’s leadership in terms of finding another alternative.”
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