Jannie le Roux passes
He was 87.
Jannie le Roux was a genial man, a good companion, but beneath the good humour and charm there was the determination of a fighter.
His time as a top administrator was achieved by fighting, but he was not always the winner.
Still despite defeats he was always jovial.
Le Roux was born in Johannesburg and then went down to Stellenbosch where he studied law – and played rugby, winning his Matie colours in 1950 when Danie Craven coached the Maties side.
Back in Johannesburg he joined Diggers, whose president he was from 1958 to 1963, in days when Diggers was a powerful club in the Transvaal.
In the 1940s, with the political success of Afrikaner nationalism, there was a concerted effort to remove the English speakers from rugby's positions of power at a time when most rugby presidents were English speaking.
In the Transvaal it was Sandy Sanderson who was the President for 31 years. In 1964 he let it be known that he would not stand again as he was 75.
The first effort to oust him was organised by Willem Stork of Diggers, the base of the movement. Le Roux, a Stork disciple stood for the Presidency in 1965 and won the election with his famous slogan 'Love me or leave me'. With his entry into office all the Sanderson men were dropped and Le Roux surrounded himself with six vice-president of his own making.
From time to time much was made of Le Roux's membership of the Broederbond, but he was in fact such a passive member that the Broederbond chastised him for 'lack of interest'.
His presidency lasted till 1984 when a palace revolution ousted him.
During his time he was the vice-president of the South African Rugby Board, after ousting Kobus Louw in 1973 till he was himself ousted by Fritz Eloff.
In his presidency Transvaal won the Currie Cup once and shared it once with Northern Transvaal.
In 1974 he was the manager of the Springboks on their tour to France.
His dream was the reconstruction of Ellis Park, Transvaal's headquarters.
He realised his dream but it turned into a nightmare for the union because of the huge debt (some ZAR37 million) involved and eventually led to the move to oust him, led by Professor Jannie Ferreira, and Springboks Mickey Gerber and Avril Malan.
Their chosen successor was Louis Luyt.
Luyt phoned Le Roux on the night before the union's general meeting and told him the plan.
Le Roux's response was: "Louis this is a bloody good plan. I hope you will agree to go along. We'll try to muster all our supporters on your side."
Le Roux resigned at the meeting, Luyt was unanimously elected, and Ellis Park was saved, standing as a great monument to Jannie le Roux and his dream.
After that Le Roux withdrew from public life, a man who could plan big and push through to get the plan realised, and do it all with a smile and a laugh.
Johannes Zacharias le Roux was born in 1928 and died in Nelspruit when his heart gave up on Sunday, 31 January 2016, survived by his wife Igna, their sons Jaco and Anton and daughter Leandie and seven grandchildren.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union on Monday said it was with "great sadness" that they have come to learn of the passing of Le Roux.
"Le Roux was a very strong leader who was often rated as the successor to Dr Craven for the Presidency of South African Rugby," GLRU President Kevin de Klerk said.
"As a very young player I was always encouraged and supported by Oom Jannie and through the union obtained the highest honours any player could wish for.
"He undoubtedly had an enormous influence in his time as president, not only on the Transvaal Rugby Union but South African Rugby as a whole.
"Many great players and teams enjoyed their rugby years under his Presidency and by those who did, he will be sorely missed.
"On behalf of all of us at the Golden Lions Rugby Union we wish to convey our deepest sympathies and condolences to his dear wife Igna, sons Jaco and Anton and daughter Leandie. We also express our condolences to his seven grandchildren.
"As the saying in life goes about prominent leaders: 'They broke the mould when they made Oom Jannie le Roux'."
By Paul Dobson
@rugby365com
