Speaker, Cope welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Sport and Recreation regarding the judicial inquiry into the financial affairs of Cricket South Africa, CSA.
We believe that the Minister was responding to a written question by Cope regarding this very matter. In September, Cope asked the hon Minister whether he intended to take any action in respect of the dismal financial management by CSA. That the Minister has done what the cricket fraternity is demanding is indeed very gratifying. Corruption in all walks of life must be defeated, and those who are destroying the social fabric of our nation must be exposed for the crooks they are.
The jailing of three Pakistani cricketers in England is an indication of the determination by governments of different countries to stamp out fraud, manipulation and corruption, particularly in sport. Cope supports the Minister in his efforts to stem the tide of corruption in CSA.
It is clear that the majority of the board members in CSA perceive themselves to be a law unto themselves. Their ganging up against Dr Nyoka, the president of CSA, will be to no avail, as a judicial commission will have powers to lay bare all that is rotten in CSA. All South Africans and cricket-loving fans should hail Dr Nyoka for waging a lone battle.
Now the matter is before Judge Nicholson and he has been empowered by the terms of reference of the inquiry to dig deeper into the affairs of CSA. We hope that, as a result of his work, South Africa will learn of how CSA abused the trust of players and cricket lovers. If it finds people have acted corruptly and fraudulently, then the country must subject such people to the full rigours of the law. We in Cope want justice to be served and the truth to be revealed. I thank you.