Cricket racism: ‘media to blame’

CRICKET SA: TRANSFORMATION HEAD SAYS JOURNALISM MUST BE BALANCED

Believes the board being called ‘Capturers’ is ‘unfair’.

‘T he media are the ones fuelling racism” is not one of the greetings one expects during an Ahmed Kathrada Foundation webinar to discuss racism in cricket, but that was the opening gambit of new Cricket South Africa (CSA) independent director Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw, who is also the head of its transformation committee.

Kula-Ameyaw has led the way in establishing the Cricket for Social Justice and Nation Building imbizo (gathering), which will manage players’ complaints of racism within the system.

She raised the ire of many by withdrawing an invitation for CSA acting chief executive Jacques Faul and director of cricket Graeme Smith to attend the first meeting.

And she has also revealed some of her own biases in denying the CSA board has any culpability in the racism issues and blaming the media for them.

“As part of the transformation charter, I have done a situation analysis and the issues are around the white management, and that there are no protocols for reporting racism so we are not able to confront issues.

“The media are the ones fuelling racism and they must be taken into a workshop and taught about the law; affirmative action is a law of redress.

“The board have been called ‘Capturers’ – it’s about a certain racial group and excluding others.

“But I have sent a report to the president of CSA and when we get to the cricket TRC [truth and reconciliation commission], then I will bring evidence.

“If these people are really journalists, then they need to be balanced. Because we are not holding them accountable, they are out to push a certain agenda.

“The criticism of the board is unfair,” Kula-Ameyaw said when asked whether there is racism in cricket.

The social entrepreneur and strategist (according to her website) said CSA’s use of quotas was doing well, but in the same breath blamed the organisation’s executive staff for black players not playing for the Proteas more often.

“In the international game there are some black players who have only played five matches in a year while others played 17.

“The systematic issue was selection and if players complain then they are told they have an attitude and they are buried alive. If you speak out, you are isolated ... we will look at every cast on its own merits – there are always three stories, mine, yours and the truth.

“Racism exists and I feel so sad this happens in the sporting federation I serve,” she said.