Johannesburg - Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Friday he would watch the Cricket SA (CSA) board as it put into effect recommendations from a ministerial inquiry report.
"If for whatever reason the board finds that they cannot implement a certain recommendation, I need to know why," Mbalula said in Johannesburg.
"South Africa needs to know... what we are protecting. Is it the country, the athletes [or] is it individuals. If it is an individual or individuals, our immediate response is no."
Mbalula was briefing reporters on the findings of a ministerial committee, headed by retired judge Chris Nicholson, which investigated the affairs of CSA.
An external audit in 2011 found that CEO Gerald Majola had contravened sections 234, 235 and 236 of the Companies Act.
The ministerial committee concluded the CSA board was complicit in a cover-up to protect Majola.
CSA’s board of directors meet on Saturday to discuss the Nicholson report and its recommendation to suspend Majola for 180 days, pending a disciplinary hearing.
Mbalula said he accepted the findings of the Nicholson report, adding he hoped that all the recommendations would be implemented.
"If you found on the wrong side [of the law] we'll take the necessary steps."
Mbalula bemoaned attacks on Nicholson's credibility.
"It's unfortunate that people can actually do that," he told reporters in Johannesburg.
"I think everyone, including Mr Majola, knows what the right thing to do is."
Mbalula was responding to reports earlier this week by journalist Dennis Cruywagen, who called himself a close associate of Majola's.
Cruywagen said Nicholson was not impartial, and questioned his credibility.
"If for whatever reason the board finds that they cannot implement a certain recommendation, I need to know why," Mbalula said in Johannesburg.
"South Africa needs to know... what we are protecting. Is it the country, the athletes [or] is it individuals. If it is an individual or individuals, our immediate response is no."
Mbalula was briefing reporters on the findings of a ministerial committee, headed by retired judge Chris Nicholson, which investigated the affairs of CSA.
An external audit in 2011 found that CEO Gerald Majola had contravened sections 234, 235 and 236 of the Companies Act.
The ministerial committee concluded the CSA board was complicit in a cover-up to protect Majola.
CSA’s board of directors meet on Saturday to discuss the Nicholson report and its recommendation to suspend Majola for 180 days, pending a disciplinary hearing.
Mbalula said he accepted the findings of the Nicholson report, adding he hoped that all the recommendations would be implemented.
"If you found on the wrong side [of the law] we'll take the necessary steps."
Mbalula bemoaned attacks on Nicholson's credibility.
"It's unfortunate that people can actually do that," he told reporters in Johannesburg.
"I think everyone, including Mr Majola, knows what the right thing to do is."
Mbalula was responding to reports earlier this week by journalist Dennis Cruywagen, who called himself a close associate of Majola's.
Cruywagen said Nicholson was not impartial, and questioned his credibility.