Lockdown and leadership crisis leaves WPCA in dire straits

The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) saw an already controversial building project halted by the national lockdown and this week the body’s President Advocate Nic Kock resigned.

WPCA President resigns

Kok sighted possible reckless trading related to the building project as the reason for his departure in a recent interview with Independant Online.

“The last few months have been ‘interesting’ to say the least,” Kock said. 

“I have always been passionate about serving this wonderful game of ours and strived to create an environment where we are able to change lives, but the reputational damage suffered as a consequence over the past months has been irreconcilable.

“Together with some of the board members that have recently resigned we believe that signing of the proposed lease agreements to the value of R12-million annually in the current economic climate could be perceived as reckless trading.”

IOL

Kok had been in the post of WPCA president for just 16 months after taking over from Beresford Williams who is currently serving as CSA’s vice-president.

A poorly-time development leaves cricket in crisis

The home of the WPCA, Newlands Cricket Stadium, is in the midsts of an R750 million development, partially funded by a loan from Cricket South Africa.

The first phase of the development undertaken in partnership with Sanlam was expected to be completed by December of this year, but that estimate has noe been pushed back to June 2021.

The WPCA executive has seen every single independent director resign, with Itumeleng Langeni stepping down shortly after Kock on Monday evening.

WPCA mass exit

Independent directors Faghmiedah Petersen-Cook, Mustaq Brey, Mandla Mgogoshe, Suliman “Solly” Mahomed, Garth van Gensen and non-independent director Richard Noor, have all left WPCA in recent months.

CSA placed the WPCA under administration last year over fears they were mishandling funds from a R40 million loan, but that decision was reversed by a court.

The writing has been on the wall for some time but a convergence of factors could deal a hammer blow to cricket in Cape Town.

Construction on the proposed stadium upgrade which includes four new office blocks which were to be rented out as office space, has resumed but only at 30 per cent capacity.

PPC’s partnership with Newlands has now come to an end, and World Sports Betting have also not extended their contract as sponsors of the Cape Cobras.

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