Cricket South Africa’s Interim Board has expressed its disappointment at the Members’ Council’s decision vote against a majority independent board.
The organisation’s interim board and Members’ Council have been locked in discussion for more than a week now about the implementation of the 2012 Nicholson recommendation.
The report proposes that the new permanent board should made up of a majority independent directors, with an independent chairperson overseeing proceedings.
But, last week the Members’ Council voted against the idea, which lead to great dissatisfaction from the interim board and the minister of sport, Nathi Mthethwa.
On Thursday, CSA released a statement on behalf of the interim board with regards to their frustration of the Members’ Council’s decision.
‘The IB is therefore astonished and disappointed that the majority of the Members’ Council has made this last-minute about-turn in rejecting the principle of a majority independent Board. We commend those on the Members’ Council who were forward-thinking enough to vote in favour of a majority independent Board,’ read the statement.
‘History has proven that the current governance structure within cricket is untenable and has been the cause of past maladministration and a lack of accountability. “One cannot continue with the same governance structure and expect a different outcome as regards good corporate governance,” commented the Chair of the IB, Dr. Stavros Nicolaou.
‘“A majority independent Board is a widely-held corporate governance principle both in South Africa and internationally. That the Members’ Council has reneged and now refuses to accept this principle is short-sighted and has yet again brought cricket administration to the brink of crisis.
‘“The brinkmanship, – which has become all too familiar – displayed by certain members of the Members’ Council, cannot be tolerated for much longer by the cricket-loving public. This is evidenced in the public reaction since the Members’ Council decision was communicated,”’ added Dr. Nicolaou.
‘The IB has written to the Acting President of the Members’ Council, Mr Rihan Richards, to ascertain the voting patterns of individual affiliate members. The IB has done so in the interests of transparency and for the benefit of all cricket’s stakeholders.
;The IB has also been speaking directly to the Presidents of affiliate unions in an attempt to further clarify its position and what is at stake for the future of cricket. The IB has done so because it appears that some of the affiliate votes may not have been recorded accurately and/or there may have been some misunderstanding regarding the interpretation of certain principles including the principle of ‘independence’ of a future Board.’
