Cricket South Africa (CSA) transformation chair Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw is eager to ensure that former players who suffered racial abuse are compensated financially.
Newly appointed transformation ombudsman Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza will be tasked with hearing the complaints from former and current players and setting up a Restoration Fund.
Dr Kula-Ameyaw said that it is only fair that players who experienced a toxic working environment are compensated.
“My expectation is that based on the complaints, the ombudsman will be able to categorise them, and based on that, he will be able to determine what percentage goes to which player,” Dr Kula-Ameyaw told ESPN Cricinfo. “If you work in an asbestos factory and they are affected by TB, you get compensated. There’s nothing wrong with compensation when people have lost income.”
Cash-strapped CSA still need to raise funds for reparations
CSA have admitted that they will need to corporate partners in order to establish the Restoration Fund.
Players hoping to be compensated will need to be patient as it could take up to a year for the first payments to be made.
“We’ve got to still raise the funds to see how we are going to restore. There are a lot of companies, even government, that is ready to restore people,” Dr Kula-Ameyaw said.
“The money will change hand at some point but the modalities and the formula must be worked out. It could even be after a year because the ombudsman will take a few months to set up and deal with complaints.”
‘Victims of the current target system’
It seems that the process will also open the door for player’s who feel they have been denied opportunities by franchise and national team transformation targets.
“Potentially, players who see themselves as victims of the current target system which requires franchise teams to field a minimum of six players of colour of which three must be black African, could also approach the ombudsman,” added Dr Kula-Ameyaw.
CSA committed to transformation
CSA have reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the process of transformation and dismantling systemic racism in the sport’s structures.
“Where we will focus the most, is the actual game. The plans will include building talent aggressively,” the CSA Independent Board Director said. “The long-term plan is to make sure there is no racism in sport; no discrimination.”
The Transformation Ombudsman has been appointed as part of CSA’s Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) project, established to address historical racial abuse and foster a unified game.
