Former Kings boss arrested

Editor

Former Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) president Cheeky Watson has been arrested on charges of fraud or corruption according to South African media reports.

According to the Herald LIVE website, Watson was arrested in Port Elizabeth on Friday by South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, along with Nadia Gerwel, Andrea Wessels, Mandisa Mkaza and Stephan Pretorius.

Their arrests are believed to be linked to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’  Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) funds of R200 million which was squandered.

Those arrested, will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court later on Friday.

Watson resigned from his position as EPRU president at the end of last month. Under his leadership the EPRU suffered a financial crisis in 2015 during which the union were unable to pay its players’ salaries.

Prior to that, he faced several motions of no confidence after a R200m sponsorship which he promised for the EPRU’s Super Rugby franchise, the Kings, failed to materialise.

EPRU’s affairs were eventually placed into the administrative control of SA Rugby after the Port Elizabeth-based union was liquidated.