It is a source of bewildering confusion that a former Supreme Court Judge, Zac Yacoob, known throughout his career for empathy and understanding as well as forthright views, could ‘blow it’ with a mere sports journalist threatening to undo the desperately needed work he had overseen to restructure Cricket South Africa.
For almost three months Yacoob had first-hand experience and evidence of the self-serving nature of those in charge of the game – and the damage it had done. The fear and insecurity the majority of the staff worked under, the mistrust and dishonesty which prevailed at so many levels.
He and the Interim Board he chaired were blocked at almost every turn in their attempts to get to the bottom of the malaise. Most of the men and (few) women on the Members Council and CSA Executive were recalcitrant or obstructive. They resented the imposition of the Interim Board and made no attempt to disguise their disparagement.
It appeared, to Judge Yacoob, that the same people who were obstructing his work and refusing to divulge important information were ‘feeding’ the facts, often manipulated with a twist and single view, to the same journalist. It appeared to the Judge that these ‘facts’ and stories were being printed implicitly.
It appeared to the Judge that the ‘fairness’ with which he had lived his whole personal and professional life was not just being compromised, but cast aside. His inability to extract the truth from the people he believed to be accountable for the wretched, embarrassing demise of the game he has followed and loved all his life, was exacerbated by their flagrant (and successful) ability to disseminate their one-sided version of events so easily.
To the judge, the journalist writing the stories appeared to delight in his role as a go-between for the discredited executive and the public. The journalist did seek the Judge’s view, and that of the Interim Board, but only after publishing his stories. This, it seems, infuriated the Judge. Rather than commenting on the mud before it was slung, it appeared he was being asked to sift through it as it slid off the wall.
A CSA release this week said the publication of the interview between the Judge and the journalist was "deeply regrettable". It said the board had "accepted judge Yacoob's sincere expression of remorse. In the circumstances, judge Yacoob has stepped down from the board of CSA. He has done so to protect the integrity of the board and in the best interests of cricket."
“Energetic leadership and principled stewardship of cricket over the past three months…” and “…much has been achieved in terms of dealing with complex corporate governance matters even in this short period,” the statement said. Indeed, that is true.
Even more could be lost, however, if the Interim Board is unable to complete its work. If the CSA Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) is not amended to include a board of directors dominated by independents, nothing will have been achieved. Quite the opposite. The discredited previous regime will survive, and they will have done so by, apparently, sufficiently provoking the Judge’s sense of justice and fairness until his temperament and temper cracked.
Successful journalists are accustomed to the individual subjects of their work becoming frustrated and angry. If the content of the work is genuine, and the outcome justifiably successful, then subsequent ‘abuse’ is not just expected but, at a small stretch, can be regarded as a compliment for a job well done. But if the objective of the former, discredited CSA executive was to provoke the Judge into discrediting himself, their success is all of our loss, not just Judge Yacoob’s whose anger was really intended for the supplier of the message rather than the messenger.
The Judge’s comments were inappropriate and unbecoming. More importantly, they are potentially massively destructive to South African cricket – which is all that he will care about. The journalist involved has made a name for himself by accepting the personal and confidential information fed his way, and having it published. History may, or may not, judge him kindly or fairly. Meanwhile, the Judge and chair of the Interim Board, is gone.
“This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to safeguard the tremendous work done by the interim board, under Yacoob's stewardship,” said a Ministerial statement. “While the minister still awaits a formal update on progress made by the Interim Board, he remains optimistic that the final report will contribute positively to the process of reforming South African cricket. He also hopes that the recommendations made will enable CSA to convene their delayed annual meeting, where a new board will be appointed.”
As do we all.
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Hi Neil...
Quite a few years ago there was a terrible plan crash in northern Canada, and the Transport Safety Board was split 50/50 about the cause, this led to the board having to disband and new organization to be formed.
CSA has failed in it's duty, it should by rights be allowed to die, and a new better more functional body formed, with a new mandate, keeping this one alive when there is no functional brain left, is pointless.. If you are brain dead, 3 neurosurgeon/neurologists agree you are brain dead, then life support can be discontinued..
CSA should not survive, it has no right to survive, and for the time it takes to bring the new SA Cricket back online, all international cricket has to be cancelled.. Last year was the right time, from March to November, but we farted around way too long, trying herbs to bring a dead brain back....You have to agree that 2021 is the time to celebrate a new SA Cricket, not even mourn the loss of the old, do you mourn the passing of wind??? Really we are keeping gas for what reason??
I get it : Judge Yacoob is one of the good guys. But his behavior was beyond abhorrent in this matter. The "journalist" (why doesn't he have a name?) did what journalists do, find a story, verify it and publish. If his "facts "are wrong then his reputation will suffer.