In the arbitration award, it was found that “there was no evidentiary basis to conclude that Mr. Smith engaged in racial discrimination against Mr. Thami Tsolekile during the period 2012-2014,” and that there was no evidence to conclude he was “racially biased against black leadership at CSA”.

The board added that “there was no evidentiary basis to conclude Mr Smith’s appointment of Mr Mark Boucher, rather than Mr Enoch Nkwe, as coach of the men’s Proteas team in 2019 amounted to unfair racial discrimination.”

The proceedings took place before advocates Ngwako Maenetje SC and Michael Bishop, who were jointly appointed by the parties.

The SJN report, which was made public in December, made “tentative findings” that Smith, Boucher and former international AB de Villiers, among others, had engaged in conduct that was prejudicial and discriminatory on the basis of race. However, the ombudsman, Dumisa Ntsebeza, was unable to make definite findings and recommended a further process be undertaken.

Lawson Naidoo, the chairperson of CSA, said: “The manner in which these issues have been dealt with and resolved by the arbitration proceedings confirms CSA’s commitment to deal with the SJN issues in a manner that treats them with utmost seriousness but also ensures fairness, due process and finality. “

Smith and Boucher are not the only figures to have been investigated but are the most high-profile. Smith’s tenure as South Africa’s director of cricket ended in March.