Maties: Rugby star in jeopardy
2003-05-22 08:13
Cape Town - The career of a member of the South African under-21 squad hangs in the balance after it was alleged he was involved in attacks on fellow students at the University of Stellenbosch.
The university is doing a high-level investigation into claims against J D Möller and two other students of Majuba men's residence.
Informed sources told Die Burger that Möller, who also
served on the Majuba residence committee,
was connected to the attack on two students in the
early hours of April 23.
The university knows the names of
the three attackers, but does not want to divulge them.
Christo Ferreira, manager of policies and regulations of
the SA Rugby Football Union, said on Wednesday the
outcome of the university's disciplinary investigation would
have a direct influence on Moller's rugby future.
"Sarfu's code of conduct says that players may not bring
Sarfu's or SA Rugby's name into disrepute.
"It's within
Sarfu's mandate to take steps against a player, but we
cannot have another trial and punish him again for the same
thing."
Suspended from committee duties
Möller, a B Com student from Carnarvon, also represents the Maties first team and is a Western Province under-21 player.
He was likely to represent South Africa at the World Cup
tournament for under-21s in Oxford next month.
The university told Möller, as well as the other
residence committee members and the resident head, on May 9
that their duties had been temporarily suspended.
Möller, who is at a training session
with the SA under-21 team in Mpumalanga, was approached for comment, but refused to say anything.
Manager Chris de Beer said Möller would definitely not talk to Die Burger at this stage.
"The Majuba residence committee has got legal
opinion and cannot comment until the investigation has been
concluded.
De Beer said: "In the university letter, it was stated that
they had committed a crime. Anything they say at this
stage, may be used against them."
Die Burger has been told the residence
committee members now all have individual legal
representation after former residents, now in the legal
profession, offered their services free of charge.
Majuba residents said the attacks were not racial or
homophobic by nature, but were carried out because the men
didn't want to listen to repeated requests to stop smoking
dagga in the residence.
Professor Julian Smith, vice-rector of administration, said
the university would receive a report from Gerhard Kemp, who
was handling the disciplinary investigation, on Tuesday.
"If we decide to carry on with disciplinary action based
on the findings of the investigation, we will take a
decision about making known the names of the attackers", he
said.