Sascoc says its attempts to establish a task team to investigate Cricket SA should not be viewed as a government takeover of CSA
SASCOC has sought to allay any fears that it is taking over Cricket South Africa (CSA), stating that it is attempting to assist the under-fire cricket body.
The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s acting president, Aleck Skhosana, wrote a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday outlining the reasons why the Olympic body felt it had to step in to assist CSA.
Skhosana also emphasised that Sascoc’s attempts to establish a task team to investigate CSA, should not be viewed as a government takeover of CSA.
“The task team will remain accountable to the Sascoc Board and the Members’ Council of Cricket South Africa once its findings and recommendations are made,” wrote Skhosana. The Members Council is CSA’s highest decision making body, consisting of the 14 provincial union presidents.
Sascoc had made its intentions to establish a task team known to CSA last Thursday but the cricket body rejected Sascoc’s resolution and said it would be seeking legal advice about the validity of Sascoc’s intentions. In addition to the task team, Sascoc also told CSA that it needed the current CSA Board of Directors as well as a number of senior management officials including the acting CEO Kugandrie Govender and the company secretary Welsh Gwaza to “step aside” while the investigation took place.
Skhosana pointed out in his letter to the ICC that “such a request is entirely reasonable, and indeed necessary in order for the task team to do its work properly. The task team will consult with the Members’ Council where necessary, and seek its approval from time to time.”
Skhosana also added that Sascoc was not being instructed by Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa or any other part of the South African government. He says that he is willing to meet with the ICC to further allay any concerns cricket’s global mother body may have.
“Sascoc cannot stand idly by to see Cricket South Africa having tumbled from the standings both internationally and domestically. The public, players and ex-players, stakeholders, and sponsors have lost complete trust and confidence in the administration of cricket in South Africa,” Skhosana concluded.
