Axed CSA boss and incumbent stumped
It was an interesting day yesterday for CEOs of Cricket South Africa (CSA), both past and present.
The axed Thabang Moroe saw his plot to return to office delayed in the Labour Court and acting incumbent Kugandrie Govender saw the organisation backtrack on her statement that white consultants would no longer be used unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Moroe approached the Labour Court yesterday to have his dismissal set aside as he believes the disciplinary process was unlawful. But he first had to convince the court his application was urgent. CSA’s lawyers argued it was not urgent and the court reserved judgment as to whether the matter should be heard urgently or not. The court is expected to make a decision during the week.
Govender stated last week, in a text message to Sport24, that following a meeting with Minister of Sport Nathi Mthethwa, CSA “are now required to enforce black consultants only until such time as the numbers are moving in the right direction and we can then revise this”.
“It’s an internal measure to enforce the change that should have happened organically over the years but didn’t, to ensure it does actually now happen.”
The announcement created a storm of protest, with civil rights lobby group AfriForum threatening legal action against CSA and the Institute for Race Relations writing to the International Cricket Council to report
CSA for failing to respect the governing body’s constitution in terms of racial discrimination and political interference.
CSA issued a statement yesterday calling the stories “factually incorrect” even though they had quoted their CEO verbatim.
“CSA has not taken and will not take a decision to work exclusively with black consultants.
“The media reports around the statements made by our acting CEO are not a correct reflection of the sentiment CSA had sought to convey. CSA therefore reiterates that it does not have a policy of excluding any racial grouping.
“CSA has adopted and subscribes to the country’s BBBEE Act and affirmative action policy. This means CSA has a moral and legal obligation to implement these two prescripts.”