Graeme Smith cleared of all allegations in racial controversy

Former South African captain Graeme Smith has been cleared of all racial allegations levelled by Cricket South Africa and Social Justice and Nation Building reports.

The allegations came as a sequel to the current Proteas head coach Mark Boucher’s gross misconduct case. He was charged with racial allegations by former Proteas player Paul Adams. 

Several others, together with Boucher, were dragged into the case, including former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe and international star AB DeVilliers.

The Social Justice and Nation Building reports made ‘tentative findings’ that Graeme Smith, along with others, had participated in racial biased and discriminatory behaviour during his time in the Proteas cricket team and as the DOC of Cricket South Africa. 

The SJN reports and advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza claimed that Graeme displayed racially discriminatory treatment against former teammate Thami Tsolekile. In addition, he was racially biased toward black leadership (Enoch Nkwe as the possible head coach) while being appointed as the Director of Cricket in 2019. Allegedly, there was also bias in the appointment of Mark Boucher as the head coach ahead of Enoch Nkwe.

Graeme Smith’s tenure as Director of Cricket South Africa ended last month.

Cricket South Africa ruled out Ntsebezza’s allegations as arbitrary and cleared Smith of all racial misconduct allegations.

The board concluded that there was no truth to Smith’s racial bias against the possible appointment of Enoch Nkwe ahead of Mark Boucher. They also added that there was no merit in Smith’s allegations.

So far, Boucher’s team was supposed to present ‘key’ documents regarding Nkwe’s resignation to prove that the former assistant coach had resigned on his terms and not due to racial bias by Mark Boucher. But his legal team has failed to do so.

Mark Boucher will present himself in a gross misconduct hearing next month before Cricket South Africa. The proteas coach was slammed with racial discrimination allegations and assistant coach Enoch Nkwe. He risks losing his current position as the head coach due to the allegations.