Proteas coach Mark Boucher’s legal team is in possession of “explosive” WhatsApp messages between him and former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe.

According to Rapport newspaper, the messages show their relationship was significantly better than Nkwe has portrayed.

Boucher has been charged with “gross misconduct” by CSA following allegations of racism made against him by former teammate Paul Adams during last year’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings.

Nkwe’s resignation in August last year will also be addressed during Boucher’s disciplinary hearing. Nkwe claimed he had been “undermined” and reduced to being a “cones boy” in a “toxic working environment”.

CSA’s charge sheet claims Boucher did not provide clear “roles and responsibilities” or “meaningful key-performance indicators” for Nkwe, did not define his role or any development plans for him and thus “allegedly treated Mr Nkwe in a manner unbecoming of a leader in your position”.

However, a source told Rapport that while Nkwe had valid complaints about his working relationship with Boucher, he was also influenced by a disenfranchised constituency in overemphasising its negative aspects.

The group, consisting of former senior operating staff and discredited members of the CSA board, influenced Nkwe and may have even promised him a position.

While the Boucher and CSA legal teams met with chairman Advocate Terry Motau SC on Wednesday to discuss the parameters and timelines of the disciplinary hearing, a date for the hearing has not yet been finalised.

Boucher’s Proteas are set to leave for New Zealand this Wednesday, where they will play two Tests in Christchurch.

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