S.African minister says threats will not stop cricket inquiry

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – South Africa’s sports  minister Fikile Mbalula said today he had received  threatening phone calls telling him not to investigate bonus  payments made to Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive  Gerald Majola.
Mbalula told a news conference he would not be deterred by  the threats and was appointing a retired judge to investigate  the matter.
“I got calls last night telling me to get out of this  cricket thing, to leave it alone because it would be very  dangerous for me,” Mbalula said.
“But I will not be threatened because we must be decisive in  acting against corruption, otherwise what will we say to the  next federation that gobbles money? If I’m going to turn a blind  eye then we will become a banana republic.”
Auditors KPMG were appointed to look at bonuses paid to  Majola and other CSA staff in connection with the staging of the  Indian Premier League and ICC Champions Trophy tournaments in  2009.
The sports minister said he would name the retired judge and  his terms of reference before the end of next week in a bid to  bring conclusion to a matter that has plagued CSA since August  2010.
“We have a responsibility to protect the taxpayers’ and  sponsors’ money that is pumped into cricket and also to ensure  that the Proteas badge and South African flag the national team  wear is respected,” said Mbalula.
“It is important to adhere to good corporate governance and  all the judge’s recommendations will be followed through. I want  this to be finished before Christmas…We cannot allow this  thing to stay on us like an albatross,” Mbalula said.
AK Khan, the CSA’s acting president, said in a statement: “I  can promise the minister our full co-operation. We will be  studying his full statement once we have received it and I look  forward to discussing the matter further with the minister when  we meet this afternoon.”