Racism in cricket: South Africa to initiate probe against Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher

Johannesburg, December 20: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday (December 20) informed that it met virtually to give further consideration to the Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) report.

The Ombudsman's SJN Report made various "tentative findings" regarding allegations of discrimination and racism.

However, the Ombudsman indicated that he was not in a position to make "definite findings" and recommended that a further process be undertaken in this regard.

"In keeping with this approach, the Board has decided to institute formal inquiries into CSA employees, suppliers, or contractors who are implicated by the SJN report.

“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," said CSA in an official release.

The formal inquiries will take place early in the new year. They will include formal inquiries into the conduct of Graeme Smith, the CSA Director of Cricket, and Mark Boucher, the coach of the Proteas Men's team.

The Ombudsman's Report included findings that Smith and Boucher had acted in a prejudicial or discriminatory manner.

The formal inquiries will be conducted by independent legal professionals. Further details with regards to the inquiries will be announced in due course.

Smith and Boucher remain in their positions and will continue to carry out their duties during the India tour.

"CSA respects the SJN process and we are engaging with the report in detail and holistically. We have taken careful cognisance of the recommendation of the Ombudsman, that in appropriate cases, a further process should be instituted to test the evidence and submissions made, and we have decided that this is indeed the appropriate route to follow," says CSA Board chairperson, Lawson Naidoo.

"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," he said.

Further steps and action by CSA to transform cricket and act on other applicable recommendations in the SJN report, aligned to the Board's new strategic framework and pillars of access, inclusion, and excellence, are set to be announced in the new year.

No spectators at Centurion

The first Test between India and South Africa starting at Centurion on December 26 will be played without spectators as the host country's cricket board is not selling tickets in view of the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, according to a report.

Only some suite holders and delegates will be able to watch the match live though current COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the government allow for 2,000 fans, according Afrikaans language weekly newspaper 'Rapport' as quoted by 'news24' website.

The organisers are, however, waiting to see if there are any changes to government regulations regarding COVID-19 next week.

As of now, no tickets are on sale for the second Test beginning here at the Wanderers from January 3.

"Please note, no announcement has been made regarding ticket sales for the upcoming Test match at the #ImperialWanderers Stadium between South Africa and India," the official Twitter account of the stadium said.