The turmoil in Cricket South Africa which has been brewing for the past 18 months is now reaching to point where more than 1000 people are staring at job losses if the country’s Sports Ministry indeed nullifies the status of CSA as the governing body of cricket.
The members of staff, 72 in total, including director of cricket Graeme Smith wrote an open letter issued on Saturday afternoon stating that if the CSA is deemed defunct by the government, then there would be huge job losses.
"This intervention not only has the potential to put our jobs at risk, but also the jobs of people employed at our Member Boards," read the letter.
"It also has the potential to set us back in terms of any sponsorships that CSA has acquired and any future sponsors who wish to be aligned to this great game, thereby affecting the day-to-day operations.
Imploring the Interim Board and the Members Council to go back to the table and have a ‘meeting of the minds’ to find an amicable solution in the interests of all, the letter demanded the ministry to reconsider its decision regarding the beautiful game loved by the people of the nation.
The letter warned that the job loss would not only be for the people directly related to cricket but also for those indirectly linked with it. “We are of the opinion that an intervention of this nature would mean, to say the least, the disruption and destruction of all grassroots initiatives and ongoing projects, and the loss of more than 1000 jobs. These jobs affect the following, but not limited to, CSA staff, Member Board staff, cricket media, suppliers, sponsorship & hospitality services."