Cricket South Africa has charged Proteas coach Mark Boucher with gross misconduct midway through the ODI series against India.

CSA said on Thursday that Advocate Terry Motau will chair the disciplinary hearing. It is proposed that the parties will meet with Motau on 26 January to determine a timetable for the proceedings.

This follows December’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) report, which made tentative findings regarding allegations of discrimination and racism against various persons, including Boucher.

Specifically, during the SJN process, allegations of racism were levelled against Boucher by his former Proteas teammate Paul Adams.

In releasing his report, the ombudsman, Adv Dumisa Ntsebeza, indicated that he was not in a position to make “definite findings” and recommended that a further process be undertaken in this regard.

CSA said that in keeping with this approach, the board was obligated to institute further formal inquiries into CSA employees, suppliers or contractors who are implicated by the SJN report, and this is the first of these processes.

“The board remains mindful of its duty to treat allegations of racism or discrimination with the utmost seriousness and in a manner that ensures fairness and due process in terms of South Africa’s Constitution and labour legislation,” explained CSA board chairman Lawson Naidoo. “It is now up to the inquiry to determine to which extent the allegations are true and justify the need for further disciplinary steps.”

CSA confirmed that a charge sheet, containing both the disciplinary charges against Boucher, as well as his rights, was provided to him on 17 January.

The upcoming inquiry will also consider concerns and allegations that arose following the resignation of former Proteas assistant coach Enoch Nkwe.

While Boucher is being charged with gross misconduct, which could lead to his dismissal, CSA emphasised it is important that the independent inquiry first needs to test all allegations before any question of sanction can arise.

“Any implicated party will be given a fair opportunity to be heard so that finality can be achieved,” said Naidoo.

Boucher’s Proteas will play India in the second ODI in Paarl on Friday, with the third ODI at Newlands on Sunday.

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