Johannesburg - Cricket boss Haroon Lorgat expressed the desire on Thursday for Cricket SA (CSA) to leave its bonus scandal behind it and focus on the future.
He was speaking after former CEO Gerald Majola lost an appeal in the Johannesburg Labour Court against his dismissal for paying himself and others unauthorised bonuses
CSA disciplinary proceedings led to him being fired last October.
“I hope this now brings closure, because it is time to move on.
“Obviously, we need to acknowledge that there were some mistakes in the past, but also that Gerald Majola deserves some credit for the good things that were done,” Lorgat told reporters in Johannesburg.
“But, we must not spend any more time on the past, we must put it behind us and focus on going forward now. The sooner we get past this bad era the better.”
Lorgat said the court victory was no cause for celebration.
“The award of costs in favour of us is just a small consolation because in legal matters there are no winners. Everyone loses,” he said.
“Gerald is a friend of mine and I did have personal interaction with him to try and see whether, on a personal basis, there was the chance of a settlement which I could then have taken to the board.”
Lorgat said it would be up to the CSA board to decide whether to institute a civil claim against Majola to regain the R4.7 million in bonuses paid irregularly to him and 39 other staff members.
The former International Cricket Council CEO said it was now time for CSA to restore its reputation with the people of South Africa.
“We need to rebuild our good image and reputation because cricket deserves it. I have been very happy with the response so far, especially from our commercial partners,” Lorgat said.
Sapa