Boland Rugby Union president Bennie van Rooi faces mounting scrutiny after a Daily Voice story published on 8 September 2026 referenced an apology video linked to his reported political ambitions, even as match-fixing allegations against Boland Rugby remain under independent investigation.
Van Rooi, an Ashton resident, has reportedly joined the Patriotic Alliance (PA) led by Gayton McKenzie and is earmarked as the party’s mayoral candidate for Langeberg in local elections scheduled for Wednesday, 4 November. These claims, first reported by Mondstuk Media on 6 July 2026, rest on a single source. Van Rooi declined to comment when approached, responding with ‘Dag se geen kommentaar’ and later writing ‘Julle opinie’ after acknowledging receipt of the enquiry.
The reported political pivot contradicts Van Rooi’s own public stance. He previously told media: ‘In Boland speel ons nie politiek nie.’ Van Rooi was previously an ANC cadre with ambitions to stand as an ANC candidate in earlier elections, according to Mondstuk Media. His deputy at Boland Rugby, Pat Marran, is also a known ANC cadre, though unverified reports suggest Marran may also be considering joining the PA — a claim attributed to hearsay and not confirmed by a second source.
The Daily Voice story, headlined ‘EK IS JAMMER — Boland Rugby baas skop homself in die gat with election video’, references an apology video connected to Van Rooi’s political activities. The specific content of that video could not be independently verified from available search results.
Van Rooi’s political ambitions unfold against a backdrop of serious allegations within Boland Rugby. Referees have allegedly been paid up to R15,000 to influence match outcomes, with Boland’s referees’ manager Linston Manuels implicated in the claims. The civil rights organisation Kaapse Forum, chaired by Heindrich Wyngaard, has called for SA Rugby (Saru) to investigate independently, arguing that Boland Rugby cannot investigate itself.
‘Kaapse Forum glo nie dat die Boland Rugbyunie geskik is om self ondersoek na die bewerings in te stel nie, aangesien die unie ‘n geruime tyd reeds daarvan bewus is,’ Wyngaard said in a statement on the organisation’s website. ‘Daar is egter eers gewagt totdat ‘n fluitjieblaser ‘n amptelike klag ingedien het.’
Wyngaard also raised concerns about Van Rooi’s personal relationships with certain rugby club chairmen, which he argued could compromise the integrity of any internal investigation. ‘Jy kan nie ‘n beskuldigde wees en self ook die magistraat nie,’ Wyngaard said.
Van Rooi has defended his position, telling Nova News in August 2025: ‘Ek gaan nie my verhouding met die mense wat my as president verkies het, verander nie. Ek het ‘n professionele rugby-verhouding met die voorsitters.’ He also argued that existing investigative structures were sufficient: ‘Dit is die tugkomitee, Sanlam se neutrale ondersoekspan en dan het die klubvoorsitters ook gevra dat ‘n derde komitee saamgestel word. Ek dink dis genoeg.’
SA Rugby subsequently appointed law firm ENS Africa to conduct an independent probe into the match-fixing allegations. Kaapse Forum has since threatened legal action, with Wyngaard stating the organisation had sought legal advice on approaching the High Court for an interdict to temporarily suspend the Boland competition until investigations are concluded.
The convergence of Van Rooi’s reported political candidacy and the ongoing match-fixing probe raises questions about governance and accountability in one of the Western Cape’s most prominent rugby unions. With local elections set for 4 November, voters in Langeberg may soon weigh in on a candidate whose rugby administration is under external investigation.
The specific content of the ‘Ek is jammer’ video and whether Van Rooi has formally registered as a PA member remain unconfirmed. Cape Flats News will seek comment from the Patriotic Alliance and SA Rugby’s ENS Africa investigation team by close of business on 10 September 2026.