RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - At Rustenburg Impala Rugby Club bonfires in celebration of a dispute which had been dragging on for the past four years were lit over the weekend, after the news broke that the Rustenburg Local Municipality’s Municipal Manager - Adv Ashmar Khuduge - had finally resolved a dispute as to the entity or holder of the only legitimate lease agreement between the Rustenburg Municipality and the premises of Rustenburg Impala Rugby Club.
This after a letter signed by Adv Khuduge on the outcome of an internal investigation by the Municipality’s Members of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development and the MM himself was concluded and was circulated to all parties disputing the lease agreement barely two days after Rustenburg Herald extensively reported on the issue in our edition of last week.
In the letter Adv Khuduge wasted little time in reaffirming that the former/current Management Committee of Rustenburg Impala Rugby Club were indeed the designated holders of the lease agreement between the parties and concluded with the instruction that the premises be vacated and operations be demobilised by the current operator of the club’s premises by 3 February. Despite all being said and done, it will be dishonest to allege that all parties in the long and drawn out saga are satisfied with the outcome of the latest resolution. It is an unfortunate and sad fact that the Platinum City’s rugby community is deeply divided on the issue. In general, however, it seems that the largest rugby enthusiast contingent seems to be delighted by the announcement by the Municipal Manager.
In the letter Adv Khuduge pointed out that in its current (former?) form, the fact that community development and in particular the development of sport - seemed to not have been the primary goal of the club - was a crucial factor when the matter was considered.
A series of minor formalities such as the finalisation of resolutions and review of documents now lie ahead by means of which all confusion around the lease agreement with the Rustenburg Municipality will be eradicated, Rustenburg Herald was told.
