Cricket S.Africa President ousting unlawful: Court

CRICKET: JOHANNESBURG, April 16 (AFP) - A South African High Court on Friday ordered Cricket South Africa (CSA) to re-instate its president Mtutuzeli Nyoka, who was fired following a public feud with the organisation's chief executive.

Nyoka took CSA to court after the organisation's members' forum, comprising provincial presidents, passed a vote of no confidence in Nyoka at a special meeting in February. The court found that Nyoka's sacking was unlawful and should be set aside, Sapa news agency reported.

CSA said it would appeal the judgment.

"Cricket South Africa will file notice of appeal in due course," it said in a statement.

A dispute between Nyoka and CSA chief executive Gerald Majola had been simmering since Nyoka challenged the payment of a 1.7 million rand ($248,000, 172,000-euro) bonus to Majola following the staging of the Indian Premier League in South Africa in 2009. Other key staff also received bonuses, which were awarded without the approval of CSA's remuneration committee. Nyoka recently accused Majola of lying to him about the contents of a contract between CSA and the IPL.

The then-president claimed he was deceived into supporting Majola in a row with the Gauteng Cricket Board, which controls the country's biggest cricket stadium, the Wanderers in Johannesburg, resulting in the Gauteng board being dissolved.