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The dispute over Cricket South Africa (CSA) board positions took a nasty turn over the weekend when members clashed with one another after Border Cricket president Simphiwe Ndzundzu accused his cricket chief counterpart de Gauteng, Anne Vilas, of double standards and racism.
Ndzundzu made the final list of nominees to serve as a non-executive director on the CSA board at the organization’s annual general meeting to elect a new president, president and directors on Saturday.
But reports in the media soon emerged after the list of nominees was announced with the head of Border Cricket accused of gender-based violence that left a woman with a broken arm.
A Ndzundzu wielding a knobkerrie allegedly attacked a colleague at his home and assaulted his elderly mother, leaving his sister with a broken arm, according to reports.
Vilas, the newly elected president of the Central Gauteng Lions (CGL), reacted, among other things, to reports of gender-based violence directed against Ndzundzu.
She wrote a letter and addressed it to CSA’s board of directors, acting CEO Kugandrie Govender, company secretary Welsh Gwaza, and the board of members, highlighting her concerns with the allegations against Ndzundzu.
“I am concerned that the press is reporting that one of the members running for election as a non-independent director (Simphiwe Ndzundzu) at the AGM is facing an assault investigation, after allegedly breaking into another’s home and assaulting him. border official and members of his family, ”Vilas wrote.
“I am quite surprised that no one, under the circumstances, has raised their eligibility to stand for election at a time when CSA is publicly professing support for the campaign against violence against women.”
Vilas told TimesLIVE on Monday that he “has no comment at this time” and promised to respond via another letter on Tuesday.
Ndzundzu responded with a letter of his own and dismissed the accusations against him as “gossip and nonsense”, while placing a career card on the table.
“Part of what we need to be careful of while traveling together is the murder of characters through gossip and unvalidated reports.
“CSA is an international organization that cannot afford unsubstantiated reports,” Ndzundzu said.
“Election timing is always critical for any organization and CSA is not immune to that, so issues of this nature will always arise. If I were Anne Villas, I would have asked myself the obvious question why now. “
“We were not surprised that this is the mandate of these people to put the name of all blacks in the dirt.”
Ndzundzu said Vilas could have contacted him privately as a colleague rather than writing to the CSA board and management.
He admitted on Monday that there was a “fight” and a woman was involved, but said he has not been charged although a case has been opened against him. He denied having assaulted a woman.
“I can say without reservation that the reports (of GBV against me) are absolute rubbish, so I have not wasted my energy responding to them.
“I have taken legal action against the authors of such frivolous and vexatious accusations.”
Ndzundzu said he deserves the courtesy of being found innocent until proven guilty and accused Vilas of double standards and racial prejudice.
“There are two principles in the law that are key Anne and CGL, audi alteram partem and everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
“These principles should be applied against everyone and that person’s skin color should not be the deciding factor.”
Ndzundzu accused Vilas of double standards and asked why the Gauteng cricket chief has never written a letter denouncing the widespread accusations of racism and discrimination against past and current players.
“He should have called for the immediate suspension of (people) implicated (in perpetrating racism and discrimination on the grounds of race) pending investigation of the allegations.
“Our black players have told you, Anne, that they have been emotionally and physically abused by white administrators and you have remained silent.
Now you want to act like a hero in this matter, double standards don’t work, Anne.
Ndzundzu ended her letter by quoting American poet, memoir, and civil rights activist Maya Angelo.
“It cannot be that everything that is good is white, we have the obligation as a collective to change that perception that the media and people like Anne Villas are planting.
“I remember Maya Angelou when she says:” You can write me in history, with your bitter and twisted lies, you can step on me to the ground, but still, like dust, I will rise. “
