Many wanted to still believe in the innocence, that the tapes were indeed rigged with false information . But a bubble of doubt, which had been growing since the April 9 denial, and that perhaps the New Delhi police were in need of an apology from a variety of quarters, started to nibble at the conscience of those who heard persuasive arguments from India and South Africa that it was a badly botched smear campaign. They had bravely resisted insults and remained calm, refusing to buckle to political pressure when it came to arguments of protocol when making their claims. It takes courage and a deep knowledge that they are right and their detractors are wrong when facing such pressure. After all, India supported the UCB s nomination when it wanted ICC membership in June 1991.
New allegations surface, as they have a habit of doing, and the scandal enters a sordid stage.
Senior black empowerment management in the country are disenchanted with the double vision which Cronje has now created. Siyabonga Ndaba, a director of a black-owned transport company, looked on Cronje as the sort of role model who could work towards developing the growth of the new South Africa and the embracing new nationalism. Hours before the first match of the Standard Bank Challenge Cup series he admits to feeling badly let down as does the Afrikaner wife of a Dutch journalist colleague with similar views. For the UCB though, it is a matter of living with a shattered dream and recreating a product which is acceptable by the masses. They were swiftly torn down and thrown into rubbish bins.