Graeme Smith given clear chit on racism allegations by unbiased panel

Graeme Smith, former Cricket South Africa (CSA) Director of Cricket has been cleared by two unbiased arbitrators of racism allegations towards him, which emanated from CSA’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) course of.

Smith and present head coach Mark Boucher had been amongst quite a few CSA workers implicated in “tentative findings” made by the Social Justice and Nation Building Ombudsman final 12 months into alleged discrimination inside the sport’s nationwide governing organisation up to now.

Boucher has been accused of racism by former group mate Paul Adams and of sidelining his former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe. He denies each allegations and can face a CSA disciplinary listening to on fees of gross misconduct subsequent month.

Former CSA Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith has been cleared by two unbiased arbitrators of racism allegations towards him, which emanated from CSA’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) course of.

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The panel concluded that there was no proof that Smith, additionally a former captain of the nationwide facet, racially discriminated towards former participant Thami Tsolekile between 2012 and 2014, or that he was biased towards Black management at CSA.

It added that there was no advantage within the allegation that Smith favoured Boucher over Nkwe throughout the choice course of for head coach in 2019.

“The manner in which these issues have been dealt with… confirms CSA’s commitment to deal with the SJN issues in a manner that treats them with utmost seriousness but also ensures fairness, due process and finality,” stated Lawson Naidoo, chair of the CSA board.

“Now that finality on these processes has been reached, it is appropriate to recognise the extraordinary contribution that Graeme has made to South African cricket.”

Smith’s tenure at CSA has already come to an finish. The 41-year-old’s contract expired on March 31 and he selected to not reapply for the place prompting CSA to promote the submit.

“We fully appreciate that after his time as the DoC, Graeme wants new challenges in the commercial and cricket worlds. He has a long career ahead of him and we very much hope that he will still work in the cricket world in appropriate capacities going forward,” stated Naidoo.