Cricket SA has suffered a legal blow in the case of suspended COO Naasei Appiah, who now wants to return to work after the court has upheld his appeal against suspension. Cricket SA though says it doesn’t view the matter as complete.
“We have basically won the appeal and that is the end of it,” , said Appiah’s legal representative, Thapelo Kharametsane.
CSA had suspended Appiah in October 2019 along with its acting director Corrie van Zyl. Later Head of Sales and Sponsorship Clive Eksteen was also fire. The three were held responsible for CSA’s failure to pay the commercial rights fees for the Mzansi Super League (MSL) 2018 to the South African Cricketer’s Association (SACA).
They were accused for dereliction of duty. Though SACA in its dispute with the CSA had stated that the trio was not responsible for non-payment.
While Van Zyl was allowed to return to work after a warning for bringing the CSA into disrepute, Appiah had taken the legal route to get his suspension with salary revoked. Eksteen was fired and is filing a dispute with the federation through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
Appiah now wants to return to work. But CSA as of now doesn’t seem keen to reinstate him. CSA spokesperson Thami Mthembu has reportedly said the organisation wasn’t in a position to comment until a final decision had been taken.
“The case you are referring to hasn’t been finalised. Therefore CSA is presently not in a position to share pertinent details until such time a final decision has been arrived at,” Mthembu said.
Kharametsane, however, claimed that after Appiah’s dismissal was overturned he wanted to return. “He received a written warning. A written warning is just that, a written warning, he’s not been dismissed…he must go back to work,” the legal representative said. “He’s ready to go back to work.”
However, it appears Appiah doesn’t want to create the same scene that Cricket SA’s still suspended CEO, Thabang Moroe did when he went back to CSA’s offices, believing his suspension was over back in June. Monroe was pictured outside the gates, but the offices were empty owing to the Covid-19 lockdown which meant CSA’s staff were working from home, iol.co.za has reported.
Moroe was briefly let into the building at the time, after CSA’s president Chris Nenzani didn’t want to leave him in the cold.
Kharametsane said Appiah was awaiting word from CSA about the next step. “Obviously we want to deal with CSA in a civil manner.
“I’ve sent them a letter (on Tuesday) just for them to confirm they will be commencing with the outcome of the appeal…and we can take it from there as to the arrangements of when he can report for duty.”