Graeme Smith given clean chit on racism allegations independent panel

Graeme Smith, former Cricket South Africa (CSA) Director of Cricket has been cleared two independent arbitrators of racism allegations against him, which emanated from CSA’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) process.
Smith and current head coach Mark Boucher were among a number of CSA employees implicated in “tentative findings” made the Social Justice and Nation Building Ombudsman last year into alleged discrimination within the sport’s national governing organisation in the past.
Boucher has been accused of racism former team mate Paul Adams and of sidelining his former assant coach Enoch Nkwe. He denies both allegations and will face a CSA disciplinary hearing on charges of gross misconduct next month.

Former CSA Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith has been cleared two independent arbitrators of racism allegations against him, which emanated from CSA’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) process.
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The panel concluded that there was no evidence that Smith, also a former captain of the national side, racially discriminated against former player Thami Tsolekile between 2012 and 2014, or that he was biased against Black leadership at CSA.
It added that there was no merit in the allegation that Smith favoured Boucher over Nkwe during the selection process for head coach in 2019.
“The manner in which these issues have been dealt with… confirms CSA’s commitment to deal with the SJN issues in a manner that treats them with utmost seriousness but also ensures fairness, due process and finality,” said Lawson Naidoo, chair of the CSA board.
“Now that finality on these processes has been reached, it is appropriate to recognise the extraordinary contribution that Graeme has made to South African cricket.”
Smith’s tenure at CSA has already come to an end. The 41-year-old’s contract expired on March 31 and he chose not to reapply for the position prompting CSA to advertise the post.
“We fully appreciate that after his time as the DoC, Graeme wants new challenges in the commercial and cricket worlds. He has a long career ahead of him and we very much hope that he will still work in the cricket world in appropriate capacities going forward,” said Naidoo.