Attempts to mediate between St Charles College and the parent of a cricketer who was dropped from the captaincy of the school’s first team have failed.
|||Pietermaritzburg - Attempts by the KwaZulu-Natal Inland Cricket Union to mediate between St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg and the parent of a cricketer who was dropped from the captaincy of the school’s first team have failed.
The union’s president, Yunus Bhamjee, said on Wednesday it was unfortunate that the union had been unable to successfully mediate in the dispute.
“Cricket was the loser nevertheless. The union remains committed to assisting both parties wherever it can and will continue to work with them. Inland cricket belongs to all participants in it.”
The union stepped in when it heard that the parent of the Grade 12 pupil had taken the school to court to reinstate him as the captain. The case was adjourned so the parties could resolve the issue, with Bhamjee’s intervention, to avoid a legal battle.
Headmaster Allen van Blerk said on Wednesday the matter would have to be resolved in the courts, and he would not comment further.
The parent said the school had withdrawn from mediations and the case would be placed on the court roll again.
While the mediation process was under way, the father served a letter of demand on the first team cricket coach, Dave Karlsen, for R2.1 million, claiming the boy had suffered damage to his dignity and reputation. Karlsen was given until August 2 to tell the father how he intended paying the money, or summons would be served.
After the head of cricket at the school, Bruce Roberts, tried to intervene in the matter between the parent and the school, he was fired.
He was suspended on May 28 and fired on June 10 after an internal disciplinary inquiry found him guilty of refusing to obey an instruction not to communicate with the father.
Roberts sent an e-mail to the father, the contents of which have not been made public. He went to the CCMA to get his job back, but no agreement was reached during the conciliation process. The matter will now be referred to arbitration.
The Mercury