Cronje to flex ethics?

July 21, 2000

Disgraced South African cricket star Hansie Cronje, accused of accepting money for match fixing, has been asked to become a "true life" case study for courses in sports ethics.

The former captain of South Africa's Protea cricket team, who recently admitted to the King commission investigating cricket corruption that Satan and love of money led him to accept a bribe from a bookmaker, has not yet decided whether to accept the offer from Technikon Pretoria.

Rene Uys, chief director of corporate relations at the technikon, said it had ethics courses in all programmes. "We invited him to attend so that he can share his experiences and help convince rising young sports stars not to do what he did," Professor Uys said.

"Never before has there been so much money around sports in South Africa, and all top sports people will encounter situations where they must make ethical choices. We want to prevent our rising stars from becoming corrupt and teach them how to deal with the pressures of fame."

Professor Uys added that Technikon Pretoria felt Mr Cronje could make a constructive contribution to the holistic education of emerging stars. It has not offered him money: rather, the lectures will be an opportunity for Mr Cronje to "rectify the damage he has done to young people who saw him as a role model".

The cricketer's lawyer, Leslie Sackstein, told a newspaper that Mr Cronje had not yet decided whether to accept the proposal "since there are, after all, more pressing issues to deal with, such as the King commission".

With legal costs eating away at Cronje's fortune, he might feel under pressure to pursue paid work. Representing him at the commission are two barristers, two attorneys, a psychiatrist, a security team and an auditor, at a joint estimated cost of Pounds 65,000.

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