Govt intervention looms at Cricket South Africa
Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to advise it that government will now interfere in the running of Cricket South Africa (CSA).
The leadership crisis at the country’s cricket body plummeted to new depths on Tuesday when its presentation in parliament saw acting president Beresford Williams asked to leave the virtual session.
Williams is implicated in the forensic report that the organisation was due to present to MPs.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mthethwa said he has been engaged in discussions with CSA for several months in an attempt to stabilise governance.
“Having evaluated the discussions as well as the subsequent reporting on this matter, I have now reached a point where I see no value in any further engagement with CSA.”
The government interventions casts doubt on the Proteas’ upcoming series against England.
Mthethwa says he also has several meetings with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and the portfolio committee on sport but to no avail.
"Minister Mthethwa strongly believes that there is great merit in creating an environment where sports problems are handled within the sports movement and accordingly wishes to offer them every possible opportunity to demonstrate their stated commitment to cooperate on a way forward for cricket," the department said in a statement.
Mthethwa has given the organisation a deadline of October 27 to send written representations on why the government should not intervene in its affairs.
