NEWLANDS STADIUM: The African Restoration Alliance (ARA) has asked the court to overturn Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) administration and halt the proposed sale of Newlands Rugby Stadium.

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A legal battle over the future of Cape Town’s historic Newlands Rugby Stadium has intensified, with the African Restoration Alliance (ARA) asking the Western Cape High Court to overturn the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) decision to place the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) under administration and block any sale of the precinct.

ARA is asking the court to declare SARU’s decision to place WPRFU under administration unlawful and to interdict any efforts to sell the precinct.

"We got involved because no other political party was looking at the grassroots rugby... The Western Province Rugby Football Union was also put under administration, and we wanted to know why," ARA leader Dr Jerome Swarts said.

Judgment on the matter reserved

Swarts added that they believed the Newlands rugby stadium should serve local rugby communities, rather than being treated primarily as a commercial asset.

"We are asking that the stadium must be given back to the community. We are asking that groups like ourselves or others will maintain that stadium, and it must be open to the public. It is the stadium for the people. It is not the stadium for a few capitalists that are looking to reap off opportunities," he said. 

Judgment on the matter was reserved.

SARU defends its decision to intervene

In its responding affidavit, SARU said the decision to place WPRFU under administration followed concerns about problems within the union’s administration.

SARU cited former WPRFU president Zelt Marais, who they said had admitted at the time that 'there were clear problems in the administration of WP Rugby Union.'

"The intervention of SARU by invoking Clause 29.5 was seen by me as a blessing in disguise in order to bring stability to an embattled Executive Committee of the WP Rugby Union.”

"Although Marais claimed that there were no legal grounds for invoking clause 29.5, he said that the WP Rugby Union was experiencing 'minor financial woes' and 'short-term financial problems'," read the court papers.

SARU also challenged the ARA’s statements that the administration had stifled the growth of rugby in the Western Cape, describing the claim as vague and speculative.

Community voices concerns over Newlands precinct

The union argued that the applicants had failed to identify specific instances in which the administration had curbed rugby’s development, or demonstrated that the alleged long-term negative consequences had already materialised.

SARU argued that the proposed sale of the precinct had remained a proposal and that the property had not been sold.

Meanwhile, Mikhail Manuel, ward 59 councillor, said residents raised concerns regarding safety risks within the Newlands rugby precinct. 

"The uncertainty surrounding the future of Newlands Rugby Stadium is a serious concern for the surrounding community. We have already seen incidents such as cable theft, with criminals gaining access through the railway line. There is an urgent need for the outstanding issues around the stadium’s sale and development to be resolved, and for the safety and security of the surrounding precinct to be prioritised," he said.

Rugby stakeholders call for stability

Former WPRFU executive member Junaid Moerat called for calm. “I think everyone who cares about Western Province Rugby would want to see stability and a sustainable future for the union, rather than another prolonged period of uncertainty." 

Moerat said decisions about the union’s assets must be approached responsibly, with a clear understanding of both the financial implications and the long-term interests of the union. “I would hope that through constructive engagement, transparency and a willingness to find common ground, all parties can work towards a resolution that avoids further disruption to the game."