Mbalula slams attack on judge

"It's unfortunate that people can actually do that," he said in Johannesburg.

"I think everyone, including [CSA chief executive officer] Mr [Gerald] Majola, knows what the right thing to do is."

Mbalula was responding to reports earlier this week from Dennis Cruywagen, who called himself a close associate of Majola's, that questioned Nicholson's credibility and said he was not impartial.

The minister was briefing reporters on the findings of a ministerial committee, headed by Nicholson, which investigated the affairs of Cricket South Africa.

An external audit in 2011 found Majola had contravened sections 234, 235 and 236 of the Companies Act.

The ministerial committee concluded that the CSA board were complicit in a cover-up to protect Majola.

CSA's board of directors will 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 that he hoped all the recommendations would be put into effect.

"If you are found to be on the wrong side [of the law], we'll take the necessary steps," he said.