Cricket South Africa president elections delayed

The ascension of Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka, the Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) chairman, to the presidency of Cricket South Africa (CSA) may be delayed despite this week's resignation of Norman Arendse.

The meeting on September 26 at which fresh elections were due to be held, following the combining of CSA's amateur and professional arms, will no longer be the forum at which Nyoka, currently the only nominee, becomes the new president. This obviously raises questions as to whether Arendse's backers are still planning a late move to stymie Nyoka and his supporters.

Apparently, the delay is so that the 11 provincial affiliates can thoroughly digest the changes to CSA's structure, which has been brought about chiefly by new tax rules. While those who have become accustomed to Arendse's canny machinations will have raised eyebrows over the postponement of the actual election, Nyoka believes the time for voting will be just around the corner.

"The delay is because of a request from the provinces, but it is just a delay, the process will continue," Nyoka told CricInfo. "We just need to make sure we do things properly in terms of corporate governance."

Nyoka is also against culling any new opposition he may face because the delay provides an opportunity for fresh nominations to be made. "There will be an opportunity for others to submit nominations, but that is part of the democratic process, you always expect someone to run against you in an election."

Nyoka is famous for such conciliatory attitudes, which is why he is seen as the ideal successor to the combative Arendse. He has driven Gauteng cricket for the last three years, taking over at a time when black and white administrators had moved back to the battle lines drawn before unity in 1992. Just prior to his election as chairman, one GCB meeting almost ended in fisticuffs. It is a credit to the 48-year-old Nyoka who, like former ICC president Ray Mali, was born in the Eastern Cape that such enmity has died away. There is still every chance that Nyoka, a doctor by profession, will now get the chance to perform the healing job at a national level.