CSA civil war: Member’s Council and Interim Board at an impasse

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) governance issues are unlikely to be resolved soon with the troubled organisation’s interim board unable to agree with the Member’s Council which represents the provincial unions and the clubs that fall under them.

The dispute centres around the makeup of the new permanent CSA board with the Interim Board eager to implement the suggestions of the Nicholson report, which suggested back in 2012 already, that the board should have a majority of independant directors.

On the other hand the Member’s council have conveyed their belief that cricket should not be run by ‘outsiders’. Under the current Memorandum of Incorporation, the Member’s Council elect the majority of the board. 

The Interim Board appointed with input from the Minister of Sport Nathi Mthethwa and Sascoc, have been tasked with putting CSA’s house in order after a succession of scandals. 

A forensic report into Cricket South Africa’s administration delivered a damning assessment of the leadership, including but not limited to, former CEO Thabang Moroe.

CSA Interim Board statement

CSA’s Interim Board released the following statement:

We regret to advise South Africans that the Members’ Council rejected the IB’s proposal to implement the Nicholson Report, specifically the IB’s proposal regarding a majority independent Board, chaired by an independent director.

This is a well-established governance principle, both in South Africa and internationally. It was also supported by advice given to the IB and Members’ Council by renowned company law and governance expert, Michael Katz. 

The Members’ Council advised that eight of the fourteen Members voted against the notion of an independent Board. In the interests of transparency and in the public interest we will be requesting the Members’ Council to disclose which Members voted for and against the well-established principle of a majority of independent directors.

This is integral to good governance and to the restoration of the reputation of cricket in South Africa and internationally, and in order to address historic governance failures which have plagued cricket in South Africa. 

The IB has always been committed to implementing the mandate given to it by the Minister and endorsed by the Members’ Council on behalf of the people of South Africa.

The IB is, therefore, disappointed that at this critical juncture for South African cricket, the Members’ Council has chosen to preserve the untenable status quo. Cricket in South Africa is a national good and in doing so, the Members’ Council has not only disappointed the IB, the South African cricketing community but also the South African people at large.

The IB will hold a press briefing as soon as possible, together with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture. 

CSA Interim Board