How did things at Cricket South Africa (CSA) get to the point where the organisation finds itself currently?
HOW DID things at Cricket South Africa (CSA) get to the point where the organisation finds itself currently? We look at the timeline of events from the time when things started unravelling.
DECEMBER 6, 2019
Thabang Moroe is suspended as chief executive, on full pay, pending the outcome of an independent forensic audit. Cricket SA refer to reports received from two committees which claim “possible failure of controls in the organisation”.
DECEMBER 7
CSA’s president Chris Nenzani says he and the organisation’s Board of Directors are not responsible for the problems that led to Moroe’s suspension.
“The Board is not complicit in terms of decision making,” says Nenzani. Jacques Faul is also named acting chief executive of CSA.
JANUARY 20, 2020
Faul says forensic audit will start in early February.
This would later be shown to be wishful thinking.
JUNE 8
(10.42am) SA Cricket Association (Saca) slams CSA for not meeting a ‘six-month deadline’ it set for completing investigations related to Moroe’s suspension.
(5.30pm) CSA says it notes “stakeholders’ concerns”. “This situation is regrettable, and CSA would like to assure all cricket stakeholders of our uppermost intention to ensure absolute transparency on the related forensic outcomes once all of the related processes have been concluded.”
JUNE 11
Moroe turns up at CSA’s office (which is empty because staff are working from home owing to Covid-19 restrictions) to resume work, claiming his six-month suspension has ended.
Nenanzi tells security to let him in because it’s cold outside.
JUNE 12
Following a late night meeting, CSA’s Board says Moroe remains suspended until the forensic investigation is completed.
“The Board is confident that the investigation is coming to a head and there will be more clarity and certainty provided before the end of June,” CSA says in a statement.
JUNE 16
Nenzani addresses an online press conference, revealing that Moroe was only given written confirmation of his suspension on January 24 (in terms of CSA’s Code of Conduct this is a problem).
He also states that the Members Council took responsibility for the forensic investigation, by setting the terms of reference, and finding the firm which would conduct it. This meant the investigation, carried out by Fundudzi’s Forensic Services, only started its work on March 6.
JUNE 19
Nenzani tells the parliamentary portfolio committee for Sport, Arts and Culture that the report will be submitted to CSA by the end of the month. “In as far as the law allows we’ll share information in the report with the public and this committee.”
JULY 21
“The report and the actions recommended by the Board will be considered by the Members Council very shortly,” says Nenzani. “We will then be in a position to make the relevant parts public.
“We can’t put a precise date (on when that will happen).”
AUGUST 7
CSA’s company secretary Welsh Gwaza says a forensic report is an “internal source document for the Members Council,” and “is not a public document but remains an internal property of CSA”.
AUGUST 13
CSA’s Board holds a lengthy meeting with Moroe and his legal team. “Nothing material emerged,” said Moroe’s lawyer, Michael Motsoeneng Bill.
AUGUST 17
(11.02am) CSA announces that Nenzani has resigned as president.
(6.02pm) Faul confirms that he has resigned as acting chief executive. Both men had less than a month left in their respective positions.
AUGUST 19
Saca says resignations of Nenzani and Faul is a clear indication that ”cricket in South Africa is at war with itself”.
The Board of CSA announces the appointment of Kugandrie Govender as acting chief executive of CSA with immediate effect.
AUGUST 20
Beresford Williams, CSA’s acting president, requests that the organisation’s meeting with the parliament’s portfolio committee for sports, art and culture, scheduled for the next day, be postponed.
The main topic to be discussed was the forensic report.
In a letter to the committee Williams says CSA’s Audit and Risk
Committee received the final report on July 31.
“The Audit and Risk Committee is currently reviewing such report to ensure that the matters addressed therein are appropriately processed by Cricket South Africa.
“As such, the draft final forensic report has not been shared with the CSA Members Council, who are the initiators of the independent forensic investigation.”
AUGUST 21
Independent director, Professor Steve Cornelius resigns.
AUGUST 27
(2.07pm) Central Gauteng Lions calls for CSA’s Board to resign immediately, citing issues with the nominations process for the AGM.
(3.14pm) CSA fires Moroe claiming he committed “acts of serious misconduct”.
AUGUST 31
(3pm) CSA meets with Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
(8.11pm) CSA announces that it is postponing its AGM scheduled for September 5, and will attempt to implement recommendations from the Nicholson Commission, along with recommendations contained in the forensic report, before setting a new date for the AGM.
SEPTEMBER 1
CSA meets with Sascoc.
