Former Proteas captain and Cricket South Africa (CSA) Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, confirmed
that he had been fully vindicated on all claims of alleged racial discrimination arising from his recent
arbitration with CSA.

Commenting on the ruling by Ngwako Maenetje SC and Michael Bishop, Smith said,

“I’m grateful that my name has finally been cleared. I’ve always given South African cricket my
utmost, as a player, captain and administrator, over the last 20 years. So, to hear these baseless
allegations of racism being made has been extremely difficult, both for me and my family.

“It has been exhausting and distracting, not least because South African cricket has also been going
through a well-publicised rebuilding process which has required a lot of attention.

“I’m just pleased that we have now gone through a robust arbitration process before independent,
objective arbitrators and I have been completely vindicated.”

David Becker, Smith’s attorney said,

“Unfortunately there were a multitude of opportunistic claims and insinuations made before the SJN
which were not properly tested and were clearly false.

“The allegations made against Graeme Smith, in particular, were made by a small group of disgruntled
individuals with an obvious agenda to tarnish his good name and have him removed as the Director
of Cricket.

“These vexatious claims and insinuations were serious and defamatory. Graeme has every right to
feel aggrieved by these personal attacks. However, it is a testimony to his character and leadership
that he has held his head up high throughout this process, focused on the job at hand and continued
to play a hugely significant role in assisting South African cricket.

“Graeme remains enormously grateful for the opportunity to serve South African cricket.”