South Africa Cricket Scandal

Bonus and Leadership Problems

Today South Africa’s Sports and Recreation Minister, Fikile Mbalula, appointed a special judicial committee to intervene in Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) bonus and leadership scandal. Mbalula is “dismayed by outrageous statements reportedly made by ministry spokesperson Paena Galane about senior soccer officials inflating the costs of airing Bafana Bafana (South African Football Association SAFA) games”.

CSA’s board of directors conducted a special annual general meeting yesterday to axe the organization’s president, Mtutuzeli Nyoka. Last year, Nyoka had a feud with CSA CEO Gerald Majola over payment of bonuses worth millions.

Cricket South Africa Remuneration Committee

On Friday night the chairwoman of CSA’s Remuneration Committee (Remco), Thandeka N Mgoduso, resigned blaming CSA chief executive Gerald Majola for “effectively lying to the board about his 2010 / 2011 bonus”.

In her resignation letter Mgoduso said there was a “lack of transparency, objectivity, and corporate governance practices on the board,” and that she had “lost confidence in the Remco members and their ability to execute responsibilities without fear or favor”.

Sport Ministry

Sport Ministry spokesman Paena Galane said “Cricket SA have shown that they are unable to resolve their own problems”. They tried an internal resolution process but failed and went to the South African Sports Confederation and Committee for assistance. Since the issue remains unresolved, it’s now before the Sports Minister, the final arbitrator.

T20 Series

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) bonus scandal makes it difficult for the Cape Town Proteas to find a sponsor for the upcoming T20 Series. The series started at Newlands on Thursday with a game against Australia. CSA’s commercial manager, Richard Glover, asked four companies interested in sponsoring various cricket properties to “hold off until they drew a line under the bonus scandal”.

Last Tuesday CSA announced a partnership with educational charity, MAD (Make A Difference), for the upcoming Twenty20 International series against Australia. MAD has exclusive naming rights to the two-match series in a bid to further raise awareness for the foundation’s work promoting educational opportunities among youth.