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Nathi Mthethwa. (Photo by Carl Fourie / Gallo Images)
- The district attorney has asked the CSA board to fall on its sword for failing to address the challenges of South African cricket.
- Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa issued a public notice indicating his intention to intervene in the CSA, unless they provide compelling reasons to the contrary before October 27.
- The district attorney, however, says that government intervention could put South African cricket at risk of an ICC ban and proposes that an independent committee investigate.
the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called Cricket South Africa (CSA) board to “fall into his sword for failing to address the challenges in South African cricket despite numerous opportunities.”
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the main opposition in parliament, whose sports portfolio committee members Tsepo Mhlongo and Willem Faber were highly critical of CSA at Tuesday’s meeting, the prosecutor accused CSA of attempting to “whitewash” Fundudzi’s Forensic Services report. .
Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa shocked South African sport on Wednesday morning when he published a public notice to CSA stating his intentions to intervene in cricket and giving them 14 days to respond with compelling reasons why it shouldn’t do what.
This came after unsuccessful attempts by the Sports Confederation and the South African Olympic Committee (Sascoc) to institute a task force intervention at CSA, at the behest of the minister, which CSA blocked by refusing to deliver the Fundudzi report without a clause Attached NDA.
The district attorney, however, said Mthethwa’s intervention would open the country to possible suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which disapproves of government intervention in the sport.
In its constitution, the ICC expressly says:
Each member nation must conduct its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasi-public body) interference in its governance, regulation and / or administration of Cricket in its Cricket Country of Play (including operational matters , in the selection and management of teams, and in the appointment of coaches or support staff).
The district attorney said in his statement:
“DA calls for an independent investigation as CSA government intervention could open the door to political interference.
“The district attorney takes note of the decision of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to notify the International Cricket Council (ICC) of government intervention in the affairs of Cricket South Africa (CSA).
“This government intervention is far from ideal, as it could open the door to political interference in CSA. We are confident that no decisions will be made without a corresponding response from the ICC.
“The Office of the Prosecutor maintains that the appointment of an independent committee to investigate current challenges within CSA would be a much better option. Urgent intervention is required to address the financial, administrative and managerial challenges that the CSA board has failed to resolve. .
The district attorney believes that CSA has been given enough time to self-correct and that, as of this time, they have not.
The minister’s decision came on the heels of a heated meeting of a sports portfolio committee where the committee’s parliamentarians questioned CSA about Fundudzi’s full report.
The ANC’s Nocks Seabi said at the close of the briefing:
“I wanted to suggest, as a way forward, that we support Sascoc’s intervention.
“We really call on CSA to cooperate with Sascoc. We also advise that the minister should be closer to the process, because CSA is a public entity and they are running cricket on behalf of South Africans.
“If it is necessary for the government to intervene, in the interest of South Africans, we do it. That is my proposal as a way forward.
In his statement, the district attorney said CSA board members must carry the can for the crisis and the organization’s downfall:
“The CSA board must bear the blame for this government intervention: cricket in South Africa is in this situation because the board decided to ignore several calls for administrative intervention.
“Instead of playing cards, the board also chose to present a whitewashed forensic report on its affairs that effectively attempts to make one person a scapegoat for the crisis within CSA. All board members and executives, past And present, who were involved in the mismanagement of CSA should be investigated, as the blame cannot be attributed solely to the feet of one man.
“The CSA board must fall to its sword for failing to address the challenges in South African cricket despite numerous opportunities to do so and undergo a full, transparent and independent investigation.”
Mhlongo said Sport24:
“We have given them enough time to correct themselves. They are stubborn.”
This is a developing story …
– Compiled by Sibusiso Mjikeliso
