(REUTERS): Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday announced it would formally investigate allegations of discrimination and racism against former captain Graeme Smith, its director of cricket, and Mark Boucher, head coach of the national team.
The pair, who will both continue in their roles during the investigation, were among a number of CSA employees implicated in “tentative findings” made by the Social Justice and Nation Building Ombudsman into alleged discrimination within the sport’s national governing organisation in the past.
The SJN had been looking into alleged discrimination and racism within the national team and the CSA since the re-admission of post-apartheid South Africa to international cricket in 1991.
A number of players of colour came forward to say they had been treated unfairly, with former spinner Paul Adams saying he had been called a “brown shit” in a South Africa team song during his time in the side, including by former wicket-keeper Boucher.
Boucher has admitted playing a part in joining his team-mates in singing songs and using nicknames that caused offence, and has since apologised.
The ombudsman report, submitted to CSA earlier this month, also criticised Smith and former national team captain AB de Villiers for selection decisions made during their time at the helm of the side, which it said were prejudicial towards Black players. However, Smith and de Villiers have denied the allegation.
“The Board has decided to institute formal inquiries into CSA employees, suppliers or contractors who are implicated by the report,” CSA said on Monday, adding that the process will take place after India’s current test and One-Day International tour of the country.
In his findings, the ombudsman said Smith, in refusing to answer to CSA’s former CEO Thabang Moroe, “evinces his racial bias against black leadership at CSA”.
Through his lawyer, Smith dismissed the finding, highlighting the fact that he was working well with under current acting CEO Pholetsi Moseki and other black officials in the organisation as proof that his conduct is not, and was not, racist.
Smith was also accused in the report of having blocked keeper Thami Tsolekile’s elevation to the South Africa team after Boucher’s career was prematurely ended by an eye injury in July 2012.
