The inquiry into the financial affairs of Cricket SA (CSA) may not be completed within the time frame, KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Chris Nicholson said on Sunday.
The inquiry committee, chaired by Nicholson, met with Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula for the first time on Friday.
“The minister wants the report in a month and I am concerned that this time frame may not be an adequate period,” Nicholson said.
“I am informed that there is a sense of urgency to get this issue resolved.”
Nicholson was appointed by Mbalula the previous week to chair the inquiry committee which also includes two senior government officials from the National Treasury — accountant general Freeman Nomvalo and chief director Zoliswa Zwakala.
“I think it needs to be understood, we’re not a court of law, we’re there to investigate and report,” Nicholson said.
“We have to investigate any irregularities that appear in the forensic report by KPMG.”
The KPMG audit recommended that CSA’s remuneration and travel allowance policy be reviewed after it found a reported non-disclosure of bonus payments to CSA employees.
It also found that CSA CEO Gerald Majola had breached the Companies Act on at least four occasions.
Nicholson said the committee hoped former CSA president Mtutuzeli Nyoka — given a vote of no confidence by the CSA board last month — would assist with the inquiry.
“I’m sure we’d be very happy to hear what he [Nyoka] has to say,” Nicholson said.
“We are hoping that he will help us in our deliberations.” – Sapa