'Severely reprimand' Majola stays Cricket South Africa CEO

Beleaguered Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola will remain in his post despite being "severely reprimanded" for alleged irregularities relating to huge bonuses received from IPL and Champions League organisers when the events were held here two years ago.

At a meeting which was skipped by CSA President Nyoka Mtutuzeli for "personal reasons, Majola was reprimanded for allegedly sharing the bonuses with other CSA staff without the knowledge of the board. This led to a call of an independent inquiry by Mtutuzeli, who was dismissed from his position in absentia and Majola then largely cleared by an internal enquiry instead.

Mtutuzeli returned to his post after a successful court application and reinstituted the external enquiry found Majola guilty of having contravened provisions of the Companies Act. But the CSA Annual General Meeting on Saturday said it considers the matter closed after deliberating on the report and taking advice from Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and the South African Sports Council and Olympic Committee.

"After long, hard and sensitive deliberation and various legal opinions, the board looked at the overall picture and unanimously (decided that) due to the insufficient disclosure of bonuses received by the chief executive in respect of IPL 2 and the Champions League in 2009, the chief executive, Mr Gerald Majola, has been severely reprimanded by the board of CSA," said AK Khan, CSA Vice-President who chaired the meeting in Nyoka's absence.

Khan also chaired the earlier internal enquiry. "All senior management of CSA have now been advised that according to the Companies Act of 2008, they must declare all amounts received by them from sources other than CSA to the board promptly," Khan added.

Khan said legal experts would be hired to familiarise all CSA staff about Act and the CSA policies in this regard would be amended.

Majola declined to comment on the matter, except to say that he respected the decision by the board and that he wanted cricket in the country to move forward now.