Cricket South Africa in danger of being 'defunded' and 'derecognised' says sports minister

CSA has one week to decide who has control over the future of cricket in the country following 18 months of restructuring and administrative chaos

Cricket South Africa could lose its status as the official governing body of cricket in the country following an intervention by sports minister Nathi Mthethwa.

CSA has been trapped in an ongoing restructuring process for the past 18 months, including a range of administrative issues and several interim boards, and the chaos has led Mthethwa to invoke article 13 of the the National Sport and Recreation Act (1998) which allows ministerial intervention in sport.

In a letter, Mthethwa said: "In the circumstances, I have decided to invoke my powers under the Act and I hereby notify you that I have done so in accordance with s13 (5)(i)-(iii)by de-funding and de-recognising CSA, and I will cause this to be published in the Government Gazette in due course at the earliest opportunity."

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The Government Gazette is published every Friday which gives CSA one week to dictate the makeup of the board and decide who has the power to establish the future direction of cricket in the country.

In response the interim board of CSA voiced their disappointment with the situation, stating: "It is indeed a very sad day for our country, for cricket, for the millions of South African fans who love the game and the sponsors who have committed to cricket and its grassroots development. But it is a specifically sad day for the players, staff and others whose livelihoods are at stake.

"The board commends the majority of the Members’ Council who support good governance and voted in favour of a modern governance structure for cricket. It is deeply disappointing that a self-interested vocal minority voted against change while three members chose to abstain. These actions have now brought the game to its knees and will cause the greatest crisis since readmission."

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