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Cronje's June 22 testimony

MR CRONJE: I was saying to Mr Aronstam that the only way that I think that there could be money made on a cricket match was if you in fact had players on your side, and you could influence the result of a game that way, by negative performances from players.

MS BATOHI: Was that just general talk?

MR CRONJE: That is correct.

MS BATOHI: You see, Mr Aronstam, I have consulted with him as I have said before, will say that - before I put that to you, during cross-examination yesterday by my colleague, Mr Blumberg, if you will bear with me, I don't want to put the wrong thing to you, if it is not what you said, just to be fair to you, let me try to find this in the transcript.

Mr Aronstam will say, this is what he said to me during consultation was that when he met you that night, you, your approach, in fact your, he was quite surprised about your openness about the way that you approached the subject of making money and you said to him "how can I make money", do you remember that?

MR CRONJE: He was talking about his spreadbetting in the past and that he was into gambling on matches and I was saying to him that the only way that I think that you can make money on a game, would be if you have players on your side.

MS BATOHI: That is not quite the impression that I got, talking to Mr Aronstam, because he said the impression he got was that you were keen to do business and when he asked you, when you asked him "how can I make money" his reply was "the ball is in your court", basically it is up to you. Do you recall that, could that have happened?

MR CRONJE: Yes, that could have happened.

MS BATOHI: He also says that during this conversation you said to him, he will testify to this effect that you, it was a suggestion from you, or basically you were prepared, you told him that you were prepared to throw one game during the England/South Africa/Zimbabwe triangular series that was coming up just after the Centurion match and in fact, just before you comment on that, he said further that you told him that you would be prepared to throw the match between South Africa and England? Can you comment on that?

MR CRONJE: We played three matches against England and I am not sure which one Mr Aronstam is referring to, and if the conversation went in that direction, I think the impression that I gave to Mr Aronstam would have been one of "once South Africa has qualified for a final, then I would be prepared to talk to him about anything".

MS BATOHI: His evidence will be that you were referring to the first match between South Africa and England?

MR CRONJE: That will be incorrect.

MS BATOHI: And he will further testify that in view of the fact that South Africa lost their first match against Zimbabwe, you then told him that that was off, South Africa had to win against England. Can you comment on that?

MR CRONJE: That is incorrect, because our first loss came to England in Bloemfontein, where in fact I sent an SMS before the match to Mr Aronstam and I said to him that I thought a good score would be 270, batting first and we were batting first.

MS BATOHI: Sorry, did you say that your first loss was to England?

MR CRONJE: That is correct.

MS BATOHI: You may well be right, I will check on that and get back if necessary on that point. There is just a couple of other things that I want to put to you for your comment with regard to your conversation with Mr Aronstam that night. Will you bear with me please, Mr Commissioner. Right, you are correct, Zimbabwe won that first match, I may have misunderstood something in that regard.

MR CRONJE: Sorry, England ...

MS BATOHI: I beg your pardon, yes, that is correct. Mr Aronstam will also testify that the first one day international that South Africa was going to play against Cochin in India was also discussed, against India in Cochin was also discussed and that you told him at that discussion that you were prepared to throw that game against India in Cochin, can you comment on that?

MR CRONJE: That is correct, at that time I told him that I was prepared, yes. Mr Aronstam will further tell you that when he contacted me after the second test in India, I told him that that is off.

MS BATOHI: That is correct, he will. He will also say that in addition to mentioning that you were prepared to throw Cochin, at some stage, he is not quite sure whether it was on that first night or immediately after that, but at some stage, you also told him that you had players, Bojé, Strydom and Gibbs involved because, well as you put it, they were already in your pocket, can you comment on that?

MR CRONJE: That is incorrect.

COMMISSIONER: Is it all incorrect, or just part of it? That whole statement that has just been put to you, is it incorrect, is it?

MR CRONJE: As far as I am concerned Mr Commissioner, I never told Mr Aronstam that I had any players with me.

COMMISSIONER: Yes, well, that is why I am asking, so the comment that you said that you had three players in your pocket, that is not correct?

MR CRONJE: I didn't say that to Mr Aronstam, I told that to Mr Sanjay.

COMMISSIONER: We are dealing with Mr Aronstam, but did you mention the names of any of the members of the team on this occasion to Mr Aronstam?

MR CRONJE: As far as I am concerned, no.

MS BATOHI: Mr Aronstam will testify that he had a very good relationship with you over this period and spoke for quite long on the phone, discussing tactics, team selection, etc, you agree with that?

MR CRONJE: That is correct.

MS BATOHI: Mr Aronstam will further testify that he spoke to you on several occasions but after the Cochin game, he tried to contact you on several occasions before that, he had spoken to you on one occasion and you were very cool towards him and then he tried to contact you on several occasions, leaving messages and you did not respond, can you comment on that?

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