The drama that has engulfed Cricket South Africa (CSA) seems to be over for now as the interim board (IB) and member’s council (MC) finally agreed on the amendments related to the memorandum of incorporation (MoI) and all outstanding issues.
The meeting between the two clearly defined warring factions has been the biggest news in South African cricket for months now. Their differences were solved after an alleged marathon meeting over this past weekend.
After this agreement, the CSA board has adopted a new governance model. We go over the biggest talking points throughout the protracted spat.
2020
August
CSA president Chris Nenzani issues his resignation without a decent explanation. Also, acting CEO Jacques Faul resigns as well, reasoning he cannot do his job properly because of the politicking within in CSA. Nenzani and Faul are replaced by Beresford Williams and Kugandrie Govender, respectively.
The Fundudzi report was to detail the efficacy (or lack thereof) of CSA’s leadership. This was a key piece of evidence of what led to the CSA fallout. After being set a deadline of 30 June to deliver the report, CSA missed it citing that the board did not have enough time to review the report. Alarm bells start ringing publicly about the secrecy of the report.
September
Sascoc requests that the CSA board step aside with Minister of Sport Nathi Mthethwa’s backing. CSA questions the legality of Sascoc’s intervention and disagrees with it in a statement. In response, Sascoc writes to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on why it is intervening, citing the delayed release of the Fundudzi report. At this point, CSA will only allow anyone to read it after an NDA is signed.
October
Minister Mthethwa gets more involved as the Fundudzi report makes its way to Parliament. The findings paint a bleak picture of CSA’s leadership and functioning. Mthethwa now calls on board members to resign but the CSA board remains steadfast.
Later in the month, the CSA board is dissolved and an interim board created. Members include Judge Zak Yaqoob (chairperson), former CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat, Omphile Ramela, Stavros Nikalo, Andre Odendaal, Judith February, Andile Dawn Mbatha, Xolani Vonya and Nkeko Caroline Mampuru.
November
CSA MC is now openly against the IB and does not accept its position, citing a lack of trust. This upsets Mthethwa, who threatens government involvement, but on 17 November the MC agrees to the IB and structure. Also, it agrees to make the Fundudzi report public.
December
Welsh Gwaza, CSA company secretary, is suspended after the Fundudzi report findings. The IB is accused of deciding this without a board resolution. Not only this, IB member Oomphile Ramela says Haroon Lorgat (former ICC and CSA chief executive) on the IB presents a conflict of interests and says he should be removed.
More suspensions ensue as Kugandrie Govender, acting CSA CEO, is suspended as well as Vuyano Bonda. Ramela is also removed from the IB after bringing up the Lorgat issue.
2021
January
The IB and MC meet over the proposed MoI amendments from the 2012 Nicholson report. Sascoc invited to meetings and to be part of the process.
February
Sascoc withdraws from the process after feedback from MC and IB. The first draft of the MoI is seen by MC.
March
The MC’s behaviour regarding the MoI is one of reluctance much to the frustration of the IB. A special general meeting is set for April where the MoI is expected to be adopted. However, Mthethwa issues a warning to the MC to accept the MoI at the SGM in April as he senses MC is getting cold feet on the resolutions.
April
The MC’s lack of feedback regarding the MoI continues to concern Mthethwa. IC and MC chairpersons meet with the minister’s advisers and agree on the SGM date and composition of the new board, which will be majority independent including an independent chairperson.
The IB still receives insufficient feedback regarding the MOI from the MC. The MC on 13 April requests more information regarding the proposed new board composition. Sascoc is also accused by Mthethwa of being too heavily involved. Despite this, Sascoc steps up its involvement ahead of the SGM.
On 17 April, the new MoI fails to land enough votes to be passed at the SGM. The SGM started albeit delayed while, surprisingly, Sascoc president Barry Hendricks makes a speech on an interesting day. Once again, the split between IC and MC is clear with no clarity on when the MoI will be adopted.
Mthethwa issues another warning to MC and demands it complies. He soon indicates his intention of invoking section 13(5) of the National Sports Act to ‘de-fund and de-recognise’ CSA. The decision will only be final when it is gazetted on the Friday.
Under pressure to deliver from the public, IB and MC finally agree over amendments in the MOI after marathon meetings and issue a joint statement on Sunday, 25 April.
