Speak up, Boland! Cape Forum demands answers on refs and bribery allegations

The Boland Rugby Union will now have to provide answers on allegations of bribery and complaints about referees’ handling of matches after Cape Forum lodged an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). The civil rights organisation’s application follows in the wake of serious allegations of match-fixing at the union.

According to the latest rumours, specific referees have allegedly received bribes to favour certain clubs in the union’s Groot Uitdaag Series. Two separate investigations have already been launched into these allegations and are currently being undertaken by the Boland Rugby Union and the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby).

Cape Forum wants to access information regarding all complaints about referees submitted to the union over the past two seasons, as well as information about the actions or investigations that were taken or undertaken as a result.

Aldo Carelse, Project Coordinator at Cape Forum, submitted the application on behalf of the organisation. According to Carelse, serious allegations of match-fixing at this union have been making the rounds for a long time. “We want to see what the union has done to investigate and deal with allegations effectively,” he explains.

According to Cape Forum’s PAIA application, the organisation requested the following information:

• All complaints that the Boland Rugby Union received from clubs in 2024 and so far in 2025 about referees’ alleged improper handling of matches.
• The minutes of meetings at which these complaints were discussed.

“Cape Forum initially considered requesting an interdict on behalf of the union’s clubs to stop the Top 12 play-offs. However, this was not possible because clubs were afraid of intimidation or victimisation. It was therefore decided to follow the PAIA route instead,” explains Carelse.

According to Heindrich Wyngaard, Chairman of Cape Forum, this application is being made in the interest of the union’s clubs. “We are on the side of the clubs who believe they have been disadvantaged by referees and who believe that their chances of participating in the Top 12 series have been hampered by this,” he explains.

Carelse adds: “If the Boland Rugby Union does not provide us with the information, we can only draw one conclusion – that nothing has been done about the complaints. The fact that we also had to follow up first to find out if the union had received our email about this also gives the impression that the union’s administrative house is not in order.”

He emphasises that Cape Forum is prepared to take legal action if the Boland Rugby Union refuses to provide the requested information.