Majola takes bosses, government to court

Johannesburg: Suspended Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola is taking his bosses as well as President Jacob Zuma and Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula to court in an attempt to get his position back.

Majola has cited the political leaders alongside retired judge Chris Nicholson, the South African Sports and Olympics Committee, and advocate Karel Tip as respondents in papers filed at the Labour Court here. Nicholson chaired the inquiry instituted by Mbalula following almost two years of internal wrangling at CSA over IPL II bonuses that Majola paid himself and other CSA staff. The inquiry, chaired by Nicholson, found Majola guilty of breaching his fiduciary duties, recommending a disciplinary hearing by CSA as well as investigation of possible criminal charges. IPL II was played in South Africa after hastily-arranged negotiations between Majola and the League`s then supremo Lalit Modi due to security concerns around elections at the time in India. Former CSA president Mtutuzeli Nyoka was twice ousted in absentia after he queried about the bonuses. Majola last week withdrew from the disciplinary hearing at CSA, which is continuing in his absence and is expected to be finalised in the next few days. Although Majola testified at the Nicholson inquiry, he has now refused to accept the legality of the inquiry. Majola`s claim is mainly based on a letter written by acting CSA president Willie Basson. "You will note that there are a number of contestable clauses in the draft memorandum of understanding between CSA and the Department of Sport arising from the findings of the Nicholson (inquiry) recommendations," Basson wrote. "In fact, it is arguable that the minister and the department do not have the rights and the powers they assign to themselves." Majola`s lawyers say that this was enough evidence to show that the CSA board was aware that the Nicholson inquiry was illegal. PTI