Riaan Du Plessis Response to Ian Jayes

@Don:

'Umlilo rightfully, more soapboxes needed please!!'

I asked Larry Wainstein (years ago) for a copy of the MOU between Province and the then to be corporatised entity; he never even heard of it!

As for Riaan stating that Government has 2 reps on the Racing Ttrust....bullshit! 2 'empowered' members from SASCOC (which is not Government! who to date we have never heard of or seen any of their input into transformation, or even purchased a horse or two).

Are these directors representing SASCOC or their personal selves?

From what I recall, the Dept of Sports and Recreation is askance that this was never disclosed to them! Where have the funds (dividends of the 5% stake) gone to?

During my stint on the Gambling Board, a Board member pushed through a decision that Province withdraw its representatives from within the industry. So, what the f.. is Riaan referring?

Riaan, you have done us a great favour. Your spin is just the ammunition we need to insist that Government not only intervenes, but also investigates the entire industry, starting with the illegal corporatisation process, disposal of assets, etc. There never was a legal directive for P (or any of the entities) to dispose of assets for share-holder gain.... even 1%!

Phambili! with a commission of enquiry..... phambili!

This is one time, I would love to have Juju in our team; nationalise the industry forthwith!

@Homer:

That's it.... kill this thread by your silence?

Can you bend on the 'channels of communication' (to which you have such sdpeedy access and response!), to answer some of the questions I have raised?

OK, just one!

To whom does the 5% stake dividend goes?

Seeing that there is a gap in TT's 'magazine' slot (Robin Bruss's show been gone a while now), I think it is an ideal opportunity for TT to initiate a weekly show for 15 weeks where these 'allegations and responses' could be presented and discussed in detail (one point every week) and in the open.

Wishful thinking I know, but in an ideal world..............

What happened to "You be the Judge" ?

Umlilo - not silence. As in my initial thread, there were some valid points raised by Ian Jayes which needs answering. However, I cannot like others dwell in the past post after post - I once again say it is time to move on!

@Don:

''Umlilo rightfully, more soapboxes needed please!!' '

They don't make wooden soap boxes any longer (Malema gave up his carpentry for better options!).
The cardboard one you sent collapsed.... so did the stage!

@Homer:

'I cannot like others dwell in the past post after post '

It's not dwelling on the past, it's getting answers so that we move on!

Why is the past being hidden from discussion?

Whilst on that ONE question (was never ever raised here before!):

Stir the following into the batter-

1. How did SASCOC receive its 5%? Acquired (and paid for), or subsidised, soft loan, whatever?

2. Who are the representatives of SASCOC & what are their roles, input... (are they African blacks only or other blacks also)?

3. Do they also own shares in their personal capacity? If so, how were they acquired?

Or, like Juju, will they exercise their right to 'no comment / none of your business'?

@Homer:

'(are they African blacks only or other blacks also)? '

The reference to SASCOC representation / stake was made by Riaan.

The reason I ask this racially loaded question is because, whilst I was on the Gambling Board-

There were direct attempts to keep Indians / Coloureds out of the industry.

Herein, the ideal candidate for the post of CEO of the Gambling Board (an Indian) was by-passed because he was not the right shade of black!)

A comment was also made by the then industry reps not to allow Indians in as they asked too many questions and were trouble makers; that explains the dirge of Indians/Coloureds in Phumelela / RA / Racing Trust, etc (except the servile ones whom one never hears of!)

The black right has to be exposed for its racist meanderings also!

scotia Wrote:

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> What happened to "You be the Judge" ?


Good question - could it be that too may feathers were ruffled?

And I agree with umlilo - as admitted by Mr du Plessis 'Mr Jayes has raised these same issues on many occasions over many years in the media' - perhaps if some satisfactory explanations / answers had been forthcoming 'over many years', there would be no need to 'dwell on the past'

Also as per Mr du Plessis 'We suggest that a more constructive and effective approach is to use the communication channels available to all industry stakeholders. These include the Industry Liaison Committee which meets quarterly and the monthly meetings held at each racing/training facility with Trainer representatives' - despite being 'involved' in the industry for a number of years, I'm very much a novice when it comes to the workings of the Industry Liasson comittee -

1. How does one get an item on the agenda of a meeting of the Industry Liason committee ?
2. Is Mr Jayes aware of this avenue and if so, why has he not made use of the opportunity (or is he of the opinion that this is just another lame duck commitee)?
3. Is any Tom, Dick and Harry allowed to put items on the agenda, or is it only for owners, (or punters) or 'people in the industry'?
4. Has any 'meaningful/relevant' (or any of the points set out in Mr Jayes's 'letter') ever made it on to the agenda of this committee meeting - and has the minutes of these meetings ever been published (or are they available somewhere)?

This is the information age - so why are we so uninformed (or is it only me?)

Phew! This is all quite emotive.

But here's another angle : I recall a number of occasions where a succession of 'crises' have culminated in either regular scheduled meetings ( eg AGMs ) or extraordinary meetings. In almost all cases these meetings have been poorly attended. So it would appear that we ( yours truly included ) LOVE to sling off but generally go missing when called to 'man the barricades'. To be fair - this type of apathy is a South African peculiarity.

One of the options available to 'voiceless' racing fans is the following : Have you ever considered buying Phumelela shares and making yourself heard at the AGM? I have always found it strange that many posters are happy to commit money week in and week out on betting/ownership yet see no merit in investing in the business and motivating change from within. The share price is certainly low enough to accomodate even the smallest investor.

After nearly 40 years of donating godzillions to this industry via ownership and punting I have recently changed my strategy and started becoming a 'taker' via the steady acquisition of Phumelela shares on a relatively small scale. Wow! It's quite an experience to get a dividend and see something that is racing related not erode away into nothing or end in tears. If I had spent just a fraction of the money I have wasted (on slow horses and ill advised punts) on Phumelela shares I would have amassed a sizeable fortune by now.

@Garraick:

'If I had spent just a fraction of the money I have wasted (on slow horses and ill advised punts) on Phumelela shares I would have amassed a sizeable fortune by now'get your point.

Your point noted.

However, consider if every potential owner does excatly that.... what is left of racing?

Garrick Wrote:

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> After nearly 40 years of donating godzillions to
> this industry via ownership and punting I have
> recently changed my strategy and started becoming
> a 'taker' via the steady acquisition of Phumelela
> shares on a relatively small scale. Wow! It's
> quite an experience to get a dividend and see
> something that is racing related not erode away
> into nothing or end in tears. If I had spent just
> a fraction of the money I have wasted (on slow
> horses and ill advised punts) on Phumelela shares
> I would have amassed a sizeable fortune by now.

if you can't beat them, then join them- yes I would
encourage all owners and punters to invest in
PGL shares instead of supporting the gambling
and waisting furher money feeding pipe dreams
PGL are on an expansion phase and shares will
double in the next quarter. Once the aquistion of
WC racing has taken place- then dump the shares
before the delisting.

Garrick, you don't need to be a shareholder to let your voice be heard...stakeholders are not invisible entities and bottomless pits of fiscal drive that can be ignored and abused for decades without negative effect. They don't just 'sling off' and fail to appear when a call to arms is required - they simply vote with their pocket, hence the drop off in the market.

Yes I agree this is also is due to a number of economic and market factors at play which Mr du Plessis mentions in his reply but there are additional factors some of which he clearly doesn't even realise is a negative market driver - lack of information and marketing and service to your customer, and lack of rectifying detrimental operations control of the product offer - so as to stave off a belief that racing is 'crooked' and also to prevent a vote of no confidence!

The modern customer wants a product that is delivered with honest and wholesome value, with transparent delivery. This builds trust and support from down at grass roots level - and a following which will weather a lot of storms, hell this has always been the customer need - not so modern! So even if the package isn't perfect, get the basics right and deliver a good product - build the fan base and customer loyalty. Right now there is a whole two or three generations out there who do not know what racing is or why they should feel excited about it, they don't believe in it, and no plan in place to bring it to them.

The top knots who run racing have a social responsibility towards the stakeholders (not just the shareholders) to see to it that the industry has a strategy for long term sustainable development, not just short term fix and cost cutting into extinction.