Cricket South Africa has dropped all of its disciplinary charges, including those of racism, against Proteas coach Mark Boucher.
This includes the charges arising from the Social Justice & Nation-Building (SJN) report and from the investigation following former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe’s resignation.
CSA has made this decision taking into account the following considerations:
– Paul Adams recently announced that he had withdrawn from testifying against Boucher during the disciplinary hearing. In doing so, Adams stated that his concerns articulated during the SJN process were about the overall “culture” in the Proteas team during the early 2000s, rather than being about any particular player.
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– During the SJN process, Boucher formally apologised to Adams. After the SJN process, Adams indicated to CSA’s lawyers that he accepts this apology.
– Nkwe decided that he, too, did not wish to testify against Boucher during the disciplinary hearing. In doing so, Nkwe stated publicly that he did not intend to take sides regarding Boucher and that “whatever happens in that process, I hope the outcome will be the one that’s best for the game”.
ALSO READ: Nkwe upset with CSA over Boucher case
– CSA’s lawyers engaged with various other potential witnesses over the past month and concluded that none of the three charges were sustainable.
– The very recent ruling by Advocates Hamilton Maenetje SC and Michael Bishop in the Graeme Smith arbitration fortified the conclusion that the charges against Boucher would be dismissed.
ALSO READ: Smith cleared of racism, CSA ordered to pay costs
Having taken all of the above into account, as well as the advice of its external lawyers, CSA concluded that there was no basis to sustain any of the charges against Boucher.
CSA has therefore withdrawn the charges and will contribute towards his legal costs.
