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Majola seeks leave to prepare 'for fight to the bitter end'
15 March 2012

Chumani Bambani

GERALD Majola declared himself ready to fight to the bitter end yesterday.

He disclosed that he had applied for three months’ leave "to prepare himself to defend his integrity, reputation and career”.

Majola also launched a vitriolic attack on the judge who had questioned his ability to lead Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Last Friday, Judge Chris Nicholson recommended that Majola be suspended as chief executive of CSA and face an independent disciplinary hearing. He also suggested that the National Prosecuting Authority investigate Majola’s administration of the body’s finances.

However, Majola yesterday refused to resign, despite growing pressure on him.

The CSA board is due to meet on Saturday to discuss the Nicholson committee’s recommendations. The committee was appointed by the Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, who was at pains this week not to discuss the findings until CSA had dealt with the matter.

Majola yesterday questioned the judge’s credibility and impartiality in a statement issued through media adviser Dennis Cruywagen. He said he suspected he had been "a victim of a hatchet job”.

Nicholson declined to comment on Majola’s remarks.

Majola’s statement said he had been "hurt and angered” by Nicholson’s "imputation that there had been criminal intent”.

"Judge Nicholson gave no evidence to back this up. He also ignored the KPMG [forensic audit] report that clearly states there was no deliberate concealment [of financial irregularities in awarding bonuses],” the statement said.

Majola’s application for leave is seen as a bid to stall any suspension of him by the CSA board. The leave application was directed to the management committee of CSA, which met yesterday.

His contract provides for suspension with pay for up to 180 days, pending the conclusion of any inquiry.

Majola also said it would be impossible for the board to suspend him or subject him to a disciplinary hearing because it had already acquitted him.

An internal hearing headed by board member AK Khan cleared Majola of financial impropriety relating to bonus payments from the 2009 Indian Premier League and travel expenses for his wife. He was warned to ensure that future bonuses go through the appropriate committee. Khan said Majola was guilty of "an error of judgment”.

Majola also called for the election of a new CSA board in order for him to be assured of a fair hearing.

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Your comments

Opstoker [17 March 2012 6:55]
Ag Gerald, get down off your high horse and put a cork in it. The bottom line is: you took an undeclared bonus from a third party, thus betraying your fiduciary duty to your own employer (and betraying the interests of SA cricket, who perhaps could have extracted greater value from the IPL than they actually did, were it not for your serving two masters). Now be a good boy and shuffle off the stage.
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royboy [16 March 2012 11:28]
CSA,grow some balls and do the right thing ...finally...and for majola,the same applies,do the right thing and move on,you have been found guilty and no one wants your involvement in cricket any more,get it?
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Opstoker 17 March 2012 6:55 am

Ag Gerald, get down off your high horse and put a cork in it. The bottom line is: you took an undeclared bonus from a third party, thus betraying your fiduciary duty to your own employer (and betrayin...

TheRef 17 March 2012 4:21 am

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royboy 16 March 2012 11:28 am

CSA,grow some balls and do the right thing ...finally...and for majola,the same applies,do the right thing and move on,you have been found guilty and no one wants your involvement in cricket any more,...

royboy 16 March 2012 11:22 am

Does any one out there know if there is a White Business Council?...or would this be seen as racist...

thirsty 16 March 2012 8:10 am

We are not allowed to take the law into our own hands, I AGREE WE DO NOT GET SERVICE DELIVERY, i.e. from the police, and here is a political leader of the ANC saying they will cut off penises, which ...

royboy 15 March 2012 10:59 am

people,try the DA for a change,it wont change the government but really will change your own circumstances for the better,you have nothing to lose and everything to gain,give it a go ...

royboy 15 March 2012 10:53 am

get a life,there are more important issues out there to worry about......

royboy 15 March 2012 10:50 am

about time we stood up in the face of police apathy,looking forward to reading about the first neutered rapist out there ,will be willing to supply the blade if needed ...

Nadz 14 March 2012 9:50 pm

Someone's ultimate denial has been exposed as there tangible reality ....wow and exposed through mass media....what is this world coming to..cases like these takes me back to a time of reflecting on ...

The Struggle 14 March 2012 10:47 am

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Majola seeks leave to prepare 'for fight to the bitter end' 15 March 2012