Lawson Naidu has been elected as the new President of Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Steven Budlander has been elected as the principal independent director at the first meeting of the new board. These elections follow the process outlined in the Memorandum of Incorporation (MoI) that was set up by the CSA under an interim board appointed by the minister. One of the key factors was ensuring good governance through a majority independent board with an independent chairman.
Naidu is the Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) and a founding partner of the Paternoster Group, a political risk consultancy. Budlander is a lawyer.
"I thank my fellow board members for the confidence they have shown in electing me as the chairman," Naidu said. "We are all well aware of the challenges we face in making CSA a world-class sporting organization both on and off the field of play."
These elections mean that former CSA president Norman Arendsey, who was named to the new board last week, has not been given a leadership position beyond his position as a board member.
Among the most important tasks of the new board will be to end the disciplinary proceedings against former acting CEO Kugandri Govender and appoint a new CEO.