CSA can’t be trusted to conduct its own T20 investigation

As South Africans, we’re pretty much aware now that corporate governance isn’t particularly high on our public and private institutions’ agendas.

Just the mere mention of phrases like “treasury”, “McKinsey”, “Eskom”, “KPMG” and “T20 Global League” should make us depressed about ethics in this country.

However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) have another ace up their sleeve.

They actually make sure they repeat the governance mistakes of years past.

This week, the local federation announced they’ve launched a “broad scope” investigation into the organisational aspects that led to the postponement of the tournament.

As any discerning cricket fan is now already aware of, there are massive questions over poor transparency, dodgy franchise agreements and spiralling costs.

Now for the scary part.

It seems CSA are going to conduct the investigation by themselves.

There wasn’t a single mention of “independent” in an official statement sent to the media.

Seven years ago, the CSA bonus scandal was raging.

Then CEO Gerald Majola and 40 other staff members were paid bonuses for the hosting of the 2009 IPL and ICC Champions Trophy to the tune of R4.7 million.

Those payments didn’t even get approved by CSA’s remuneration committee.

President Mtutuzeli Nyoka smelled a rat and called for an independent investigation.

He was sidelined by the Majola sycophants, who instead kept it in-house.

Shamefully but not surprisingly, Majola was cleared.

Nyoka was voted out, reinstated after a high court ruling and then left again.

Just when CSA seemed to be meandering towards unaccountability, the Sports Ministry called a commission of inquiry.

Majola was found to have contravened the Companies Act on four counts.

He was fired and CSA were restructured.

The baffling question is: why is the local federation going down this road again?

CSA could argue their new governing structure contains various independent board members.

It’s a poor one.

Those four individuals – Norman Arendse, Vusi Pikoli, Dawn Mokhobo and Louis von Zeuner – clearly couldn’t be bothered asking questions during the organising phase.

Telling us now that CSA “wasn’t fully appraised” cuts no ice.

Worst of all, Von Zeuner and acting chief Thabang Moroe were members of a sub-committee that acted between the CSA board and departed CEO Haroon Lorgat.

To cry foul just reinforces the board’s apathy.

They surely can’t be trusted to conduct this investigation on their own.

Heinz Schenk: Online Sports Editor.