Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that the first part of the independent forensic audit as well as the investigation into suspended Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thabang Moroe, is expected by the end of the week.
Addressing a well-attended Tele-Press Conference on Tuesday evening, CSA President and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Chris Nenzani, shed light on a number of issues that the organisation was currently dealing with.
He admitted that CSA had experienced challenges over the past few months but reiterated that the picture was a much better one compared to six months ago.
“There are a few issues that we had hoped that we would have pronounced on by now, such as the outcome of the forensic audit and the conclusion of all disciplinary processes,” Nenzani stated.
“Much to our huge disappointment, however, both at the level of the CSA Board and the Members Council (who instituted the independent forensic investigation), this has not happened.
“For this, I ask for your absolute understanding that we have to complete this procedure in accordance with the strictest governance and legal provisions and this unfortunately has proven to be a time-consuming exercise.
“I am pleased to announce that we have been promised the preliminary report from the Forensic Investigation by this Friday and I have every confidence that by the end of this month the Board will be able to refer the final report to the Members Council to decide the way forward.”
Moroe was suspended in December 2019 pending the outcome of an independent forensic investigation into management practices at CSA.
Nenzani provided some insight as to why the matter has been delayed.
“Unfortunately, the forensic investigation did not start at the time we hoped. If you follow the sequence of events, we made the announcement on December 7 last year, but actually the forensic audit company was appointed towards the end of February and started work only in March.
“This was not by design, it was because of the processes we needed to go through needed to be very elaborate and conclusive because the appointment of this investigation did not reside with the Board, but with the Members Council, the 14 Provincial Presidents.
“The simple reason for that is because we said in the scope of the investigation, it must also look into the decision making within the Board itself. Therefore, the Members Council had to be the appointing authority in this instance and that together with a few other matters, like the experience of the lockdown, would have delayed things.”
Last week, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) had expressed its dissatisfaction by the delay with the Moroe matter and Nenzani offered reassurances to them and other CSA stakeholders.
“Our relationship with SACA is very important to us because it’s a relationship of necessity, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship and therefore it is important to us that at any given point in time we strive to make that relationship work. We understand their unhappiness on certain matters, but I think there are very few people that would have wanted us to flout procedures.”
Nenzani also added that things were looking positive for CSA, praising acting Chief Executive Dr. Jacques Faul and Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith for their efforts over the past six months.
“Compared to the crisis we had to endure at the end of last year I am able to report that we have moved forward to a much stronger position,” he concluded.
“Tomorrow we will be announcing three new sponsors and there is a major fourth deal involving an international sponsor that will also be announced shortly.
“All these contracts have been signed and I believe it represents outstanding work by our Acting CEO and staff that they have managed to secure these contracts in the current financial climate.”
