While legal experts, the government and Cricket South Africa continue to strive for a speedy conclusion, it appears as though the disciplinary process involving CSA’s suspended chief executive Gerald Majola could drag on for another month.
At this Friday’s meeting, CSA’s Board of Directors will consider the advice of their legal team from the firm Glyn Marais Inc. A representative of the firm, Nicholas Preston, said a preliminary hearing took place last week but further details could only be made public once Majola’s legal team had been given time to consider the outcome.
The disciplinary hearing arose out of recommendations made by Judge Chris Nicholson, whose well-publicised inquiry last year agreed that Majola had indeed breached the Companies Act when he collected bonuses for the hosting of the IPL and the Champions Trophy held in this country in 2009.
Cricket SA had hoped to have the disciplinary procedures completed by the end of May but, according to Preston, agreement over dates and other procedural matters have slowed the process.
Asked if there was pressure from CSA and the Department of Sport and Recreation to have the matter dealt with and resolved quickly, Preston answered: “Undoubtedly. From the outset CSA and the Ministry wanted this to be completed expediently. But we have to get all the parties together. It would be in no one’s interest, not CSA nor the former CEO, if this dragged on into September.
“We are hoping that, having already had the preliminary hearings, we can possibly have the formal process start in the next week or two. The CSA Board of Directors will consider our legal opinion at their meeting (this Friday),” Preston added.
Cricket SA’s stand-in president Willie Basson will meet with the organisation’s legal team this afternoon to get up to speed with where the disciplinary process is at the moment before reporting to the Board on Friday.
Meanwhile, Basson reiterated his support for interim chief executive Jacques Faul who tendered his resignation last week, but is currently reconsidering whether to remain in the position.
Faul cited “interference from certain Board members in operational” matters for his decision to resign.
“I would hope he stays,” Basson said last night, adding that since receiving Faul’s letter last week he was trying to persuade him to do so. He has very definitive skills and having watched him operate on behalf of CSA on the international scene it is clear that he very much has the nous for the job.
“He would certainly be in the pot to be the new CEO if the governance restructuring that is currently being assessed was completed,” Basson added.
Faul will inform the Board at Friday’s meeting whether he has changed his mind and wants to stay in the job. He refused to comment about his future when contacted yesterday.