Cricket South Africa (CSA), after reviewing a 235-page final report submitted by the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) Commission head Dumisa Ntsebeza, will launch a formal inquiry into the conduct of Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher.
The SJN report, which was made public last Wednesday, made tentative findings that Smith, Boucher and former international AB de Villiers, amongst others, had engaged in conduct that was prejudicial and discriminatory on the basis of race.
However, Smith, being the director of cricket and Boucher as the national men’s head coach, will continue to perform their duties and hold their positions for the upcoming home series against India.
“The Board has decided to institute formal inquiries into CSA employees, suppliers or contractors who are implicated by the SJN report,” said a CSA statement, which was issued on Monday morning as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“The Board has done so mindful of its duty to treat allegations of racism or discrimination with the utmost seriousness and in a manner that ensures fairness and due process in terms of South Africa’s labour legislation and the Constitution,” the statement further added.
Proteas captain and keeper aren’t the only individuals who will be investigated. However, both of them are the most high profile people among those, who have allegedly been involved in discriminatory conduct with respect to race.
Nevertheless, the ombudsman, Dumisa Ntsebeza, failed to make conclusive findings and thus, recommended a further process be undertaken, which the board will take up. An important point to be noted is the fact that the former Proteas captain and keeper aren’t the only individuals who will be investigated. However, both of them are the most high profile people among those, who have allegedly been involved in discriminatory conduct with respect to race.
However, it is to be noted that this inquiry also gives an opportunity to those who have allegedly acted in a biased manner, an opportunity to respond. Although Smith and Boucher have submitted written affidavits to the ombudsman, they did not appear to give oral evidence.
“We hope this will give implicated parties a fair opportunity to be heard so that finality can be achieved, and any final findings can then be acted on,” said Lawson Naidoo, CSA board chair.
