Former CSA director of cricket Graeme Smith has been cleared by two independent arbitrators of racism allegations against him.
In December 2021, Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) ombudsman Adv Dumisa Ntsebeza delivered his report which made “tentative findings” regarding various persons, including Smith, but indicated that he was not in a position to make “definite findings” on allegations before him. The ombudsman therefore recommended that further formal processes take place to achieve finality on these issues.
CSA duly followed these recommendations by initiating an arbitration process regarding Smith before two independent and well-respected advocates, Adv Ngwako Maenetje and Adv Michael Bishop.
A full arbitration process took place, during which both CSA and Smith were legally represented. Witnesses were called and cross-examined by both sides and the findings and evidence from the SJN process were placed before the arbitrators.
In the arbitration award, Maenetje and Bishop have determined that:
- There was no evidentiary basis to conclude that Smith engaged in racial discrimination against Thami Tsolekile during the period 2012-2014 [It had been alleged that Smith, while Proteas captain, discriminated against Tsolekile, a specialist wicketkeeper, after Mark Boucher was injured shortly before a Test series in England in 2012. AB de Villiers, one of the team’s leading batsmen, kept wicket in the series, which South Africa won.];
- There was no evidentiary basis to conclude that Smith was racially biased against black leadership at CSA; and
- There was no evidentiary basis to conclude Smith’s appointment of Mark Boucher, rather than Enoch Nkwe, as coach of the men’s Proteas team in 2019 amounted to unfair racial discrimination.
The arbitration award directed CSA to pay Smith’s costs.
“The manner in which these issues have been dealt with and resolved by the arbitration proceedings confirms CSA’s commitment to deal with the SJN issues in a manner that treats them with utmost seriousness but also ensures fairness, due process and finality,” said CSA board chairman Lawson Naidoo.
“Now that finality on these processes has been reached, it is appropriate to recognise the extraordinary contribution that Graeme has made to South African cricket, first as the longest-serving Test captain in cricket history and then as director of cricket from 2019 to 2022.
“His role as the director of cricket has been critical in rebuilding the Proteas men’s team in particular and has laid a solid foundation for his successor.”
Smith’s contract as the director of cricket ended, as per his original contract term, at the end of March 2022 and CSA has publicly advertised the position.
“We fully appreciate that after his time as the director of cricket, Graeme wants new challenges in the commercial and cricket worlds,” said Naidoo. “He has a long career ahead of him and we very much hope that he will still work in the cricket world in appropriate capacities going forward.”
CSA said “it appreciated that it has been difficult for Mr Smith to endure the unwarranted public disclosures of his personal information, including his remuneration, during the SJN process” and that “CSA regrets that this occurred and wishes Mr Smith everything of the best going forward”.
Pholetsi Moseki, the CEO of CSA, added: “On behalf of the Exco, staff and players at CSA, I would like to thank Graeme for all that he did as the director of cricket. He put up his hand at a particularly tumultuous period for CSA and he has often gone beyond his contracted duties to assist CSA during his term.”
