Johannesburg – Cricket SA's board of directors has stepped in to help resolve the affairs of Eastern Province Cricket, it was announced on Friday.
“The board is extremely concerned by recent events in Eastern Province Cricket regarding its financial management and the process followed regarding the election of office-bearers at this year's AGM,” CSA board chairman Chris Nenzani said in a statement.
Axed EPC president Graeme Sauls vowed to fight back after fellow executive directors voted to uphold allegations levelled against him in August.
Some of the claims against Sauls, who held the job for 10
months, included accepting the CEO's resignation in June without board approval, hiring a new development coach without board approval, and the procurement of new cricket balls without following the correct processes.
His position was filled, temporarily, by risk and audit director Malcolm Figg until a new president was to have been elected at the board's AGM in September.
However, the power struggle continued after Rajan Moodaley, a convicted fraudster, was the only nomination for the post.
In 2004, Moodaley was found guilty by the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crime Court of five counts of fraud involving R79,950, after claiming payment from the EPC board, CSA, and the SA Cricket Scorers' Association for scoring duties he did not perform.
He was fined R30,000 or two years' imprisonment, with a further two years' imprisonment suspended for five years.
Given the gravity of the situation in which the cricket union found itself, and the adverse effects on the administration of the game in the region, the board exercised its step-in rights in terms of the provisions of clause 12.4 of the CSA's memorandum of incorporation. – Sapa