The turmoil in Cricket South Africa due to allegations of corruption has shaken the confidence of potential sponsors who have expressed their concern about CSA's brand integrity to the Sports Ministry.
Published: Oct 28, 2011, 03:08 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 28, 2011, 03:08 PM (IST)
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula had said that he would institute an inquiry into the affairs of CSA © Getty Images
Johannesburg: Oct 28, 2011
The turmoil in Cricket South Africa due to allegations of corruption has shaken the confidence of potential sponsors who have expressed their concern about CSA’s brand integrity to the Sports Ministry.
CSA is currently hosting Australia for a one-day and Twenty20 series with no sponsors and although there is believed to be a sponsor for the upcoming Test series, this has not been announced yet.
CSA fired its President for a second time after he challenged CEO Gerald Majola for receiving allegedly irregular bonuses from the IPL two years ago and the turmoil has seriously affected its reputation, according to insiders.
Previously, sponsors would line up to be associated with CSA and the Proteas, but after major sponsors Standard Bank and mobile phone giant MTN withdrew, others have been very reluctant to come forward.
The meeting with Gert Oosthuizen, Deputy Minister in the Department of Sports and Recreation, was arranged by SAIL, a rights commercialisation agency, in the wake of an announcement by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula a fortnight ago that he would institute an inquiry into the affairs of CSA.
Financial services company Momentum also attended the meeting, according to the ‘BusinessDay’ newspaper, although both these companies declined to comment.
An earlier report by auditors KPMG is believed to have pointed to Majola as being in breach of the Companies Act on several counts for bonuses paid to him and other CSA staff by the organisers of the 2009 Indian Premier League and Champions Trophy, which were held in South Africa.
CSA has persisted in refusing to make the report public.
Acting Director-General of the Sports Ministry, Sumayya Khan said sponsors were concerned.
“Any company wants to associate themselves with a brand of integrity,” Khan said.(PTI)
