Cricket South Africa (CSA) independent director Dheven Dharmalingam tendered their resignation from the troubled board of the national cricket federation on Friday 24 October in a move expected to precede the en masse departure of the remaining members.
Cricket South Africa’s Members’ Council re-issued a call for the board to step aside to allow the appointment of administrators to guide the body out of a governance dead-end decades in the making.
More CSA turmoil
While it appears radical change is at hand cricket fans, and students of the game will be forgiven cynicism regarding the future of the sport in South Africa.
Dharmalingam is the latest independent director to step away from CSA which has been beset by incessant scandal for the last year with the conduct of former CEO Thabang Moroe at the centre of the omnishambles.
“Further to the recommendation [by members council] taken last night [on Thursday]‚ I would like the company secretary [Gwaza] to advise the members’ council on my behalf as follows:
“Following the Board meeting last night, I have engaged with no Director or anyone related to CSA in making the following commitment.
“I note that my appointment as an independent director is until the next AGM‚ which will be no later than 5 December 2020.
“I hereby confirm my acceptance to resign as an independent director‚ should the member council‚ in its deliberations‚ believe this is in the best interest of CSA‚” Dharmalingam is reported to have advised the CSA.
Time’s up
Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa has given CSA until Tuesday 27 October to provide detailed reasons he should not intervene in the administration of the sport.
With the deadline fast approaching and the CSA board continuing to defy calls for them to step aside, the members’ council made up of 12 affiliate presidents, and the CSA president and vice-president has ordered the board to fall on their proverbial swords.
The attempted intervention of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) failed outright as the board were unwilling to co-operate with the committee, who are themselves besieged by a leadership dispute.
Sascoc made an urgent appeal to Mthethwa to take action and help mediate a solution to CSA’s maladministration.
Mthethwa, mindful that the International Cricket Council maintains strict standards on government interference in the administration of the game, has given CSA time to present a pathway towards a solution, but that time is running out.
Acting president Beresford Williams is reportedly the chief source of resistance to change and the dissolution of the board.
