Fikile Mbalula’s tenure as minister of sport came to an end after Jacob Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle on Thursday night.

Mbalula served as the deputy minister of police in 2009, before he was moved to sport in 2010. He will now become minister of police.

Thembelani Nxesi, the former minister of public works, is the new minister of sport.

Mbalula blamed financial disagreements for Durban losing the right to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games earlier this month. He was also responsible for the ban preventing South Africa from hosting any major cricket events, and was meant to meet with CSA in the coming weeks with regard to lifting the ban.

A CSA spokesperson confirmed that meetings between CSA and the department of sport had been taking place throughout the year since the ban was first laid down.

There have been no further announcements on the matter since Mbalula’s departure on Thursday night.

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