Unity for the United Cricket Board of South Africa

The Annual General Meeting of the UCBSA today showed a compelling picture of unity as not a single election was required for positions on the General Council.

"This shows me more than anything that we in cricket have grown up and matured and the message of unity that was so strong at our Consolidation Conference last month has truly been internalized," said UCB President Percy Sonn at the meeting. Sonn, Vice President Rob Kurz and Treasurer John Blair were all unopposed for re-election.

Three Black African representatives who had served on the Council last year - Tim Khumalo, Oupa Ngagisang and Peter Bacela - were also unopposed after the withdrawal of the nomination of Reuben Tseladimitwa. But the General Council which met after the AGM decided to co-opt Tseladimitwa on to the Council for the year. Although the UCBSA Constitution allows for the election of three Black African representatives, the Council felt that it would be in the interests of cricket for all four gentlemen to serve and thus decided to co-opt Tseladimitwa.

The representatives from the affiliates on the General Council were the same as those which ended the previous year on the Council:

Boland - Henry Paulse
Border - Ray Mali
Easterns - Cassim Suliman
Eastern Province - Under judicial management
Free State - Charlie Robinson
Gauteng - Mahomed Jajbhay
Griqualand West - Ahmed Jinnah
KwaZulu-Natal - Dr Logan Naidoo
Northerns - Brandon Foot
North West - Mickey Gordon
Western Province - Arnold Bloch

GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING

The new General Council discussed the UCB's concerns around the composition of a Ministerial Committee to investigate transformation in cricket, the committee's terms of reference and the scope of its investigation. The General Council decided to make a further appeal to the Minister to meet representatives of the UCB to discuss these concerns. Although previous requests for such a meeting have been declined, another letter will be sent to the Minister regarding this request.

The General Council meeting was addressed by Cliffie Louw, one of the two judicial managers appointed by the High Court of South Africa to manage the affairs of the Eastern Province Cricket Board. Louw was optimistic that all stakeholders, including former Board members, could work together to bring the province back on track.

The General Council nominated two independent directors on to the Board of Cricket SA (Pty) Ltd. The nominees are:

Professor Jakes Gerwel
Professor Vishnu Padayachee

The Executive Committee and Finance Committee were also elected.

Executive Committee:

Percy Sonn (President)
Rob Kurz (Vice-President)
John Blair (Treasurer)
Gerald Majola (Chief Executive Officer)
Arnold Bloch
Tim Khumalo
Ray Mali
Charlie Robinson
(This is the same as the Executive Committee of the previous year)

Finance Committee:

John Blair (Treasurer)
Gerald Majola (Chief Executive Officer)
Ian Smith (ICC CWC 2003)
Haroon Lorgat
Ahmed Jinnah
Diteko Modise
A provincial CEO to be nominated