CA Davids: The vote of no confidence and its subsequent relationship to the resignation demands clarity. BASA as a public entity is obligated to be transparent.

To the Directors of the BASA Board

This past week I received an invitation to the BASA Annual General Meeting to be held in October 2024. I am a member of BASA and have been for a few years, so there was nothing out of the ordinary there. What I am finding unusual is the attempt at ‘business as usual’ despite the lack of clarification around the sudden resignation of Ashraf Johaardien, BASA’s former CEO.

In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and via email, I learned of Johaardien’s recent resignation, and an apparent vote of no confidence in him. I was deeply troubled at how the information was released and, moreover, the manner in which his departure appeared to be framed (these posts have since been deleted). BASA has yet to explain the situation and the concerning implications.

To be fully transparent, I have known and worked alongside Ashraf for decades since we were employed as colleagues at the Baxter Theatre Centre in the 1990’s. (Our collaborations predate this even, and include at Levi Strauss South Africa, the National Arts Festival, BASA PESP Review Panel, and a short contract I won after an unexpected staff departure in 2022). We have come a long way as colleagues, arts workers, and as friends.

I feel concerned then, that little has emerged from BASA about this strange turn of events. More than that, I feel it my duty and privilege to vouch for Ashraf’s integrity and his unwavering commitment to the cultural sector. He is a person of exceptional detail, precision, and is driven – qualities I have witnessed over the many years. He holds himself, his colleagues and the organisations he leads to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. I have seen him exhaust himself in an effort to advance and defend the sector. His style is direct, at times passionate and intense, yet it is always rooted in a desire for excellence.

The vote of no confidence against him, and its subsequent relationship to his resignation, demands clarity. BASA as a public entity is obligated to be transparent and accountable to the sector it serves. The onus thus remains on the board to offer a sound and detailed explanation. Anything less would do a disservice not only to Ashraf but to the integrity of BASA itself.

Yours sincerely,

CA Davids

Arts Worker (Iziko Museums of South Africa, The Africa Centre, the Alexander Kasser Theatre, the Baxter Theatre, amongst others) and novelist (How to be a Revolutionary, Verso Books, PRH South Africa; The Blacks of Cape Town, Modjaji Books).

CA Davids
davidscaf@gmail.com

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