UCBSA applies to put Eastern Province under judicial management

The UCBSA launched an urgent application today in the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa in Grahamstown for an order to place the Eastern Province Cricket Board provisionally under judicial management in terms of Section 427 of the Companies Act.

The EPCB is an Association not for gain, registered in terms of Section 21 of the Companies Act, and the UCBSA is a creditor of the EPCB.

On 31 May 2002 the CEO of the UCB, Gerald Majola, presented a report on the province's affairs to the General Council of the UCBSA. In Majola's report he stated that there had been two years of wrangling between the offices of the province's President, CEO, Board and the now-defunct EP Transformation Monitoring Committee.

"During this period, independent findings have shown financial mismanagement, lack of transparency and inadequate corporate governance in the province," said Majola.

"The 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final match is only nine months away and it is important that we take steps to safeguard this important match, as well as other World Cup games. The World Cup semi-final was allocated to St George's Park in recognition of over a century of passion for cricket among all the peoples of the Eastern Cape. We cannot jeopardize this and must act decisively," Majola added.

He added that a UCB interim committee had investigated the affairs of the province and had made recommendations for a strategic business plan to be put in place. However, deadlines set by the UCBSA had not been met. Recent incidents include the resignation of six key Board members, including two Presidents, and the suspension of another key Board member, Rajan Moodaley. The latest resignation, that of selector and Board member Richard Dolley, was received last night.

In recommendations to the General Council, Majola suggested, amongst other measures, that the UCBSA apply for the judicial management of the EPCB. The General Council unanimously accepted all of Majola's recommendations.

If the application for Judicial Management is successful, the Judicial Manager will replace the Board of Directors of EPCB and will take over the running of the affairs of Eastern Province cricket. The judicial manager will have the authority to appoint an interim Executive Committee and will report to the United Cricket Board.

In terms of the urgent application, which was issued and served on the EPCB today, the UCB has asked for the matter to be heard in Grahamstown on Friday, 14 June 2002. If the EPCB intend opposing the application, they would need to deliver notice of this intention by 4pm on Friday, 7 June 2002. The EPCB would also have until 12pm on Tuesday, 11 June 2002 to deliver any answering affidavit.