By Kevin Rademeyer, Sport Journalist.
Photo Credit: CSA.
South Africa has taken a decisive step towards hosting the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, unveiling a powerful Local Organising Committee Board (LOCB) tasked with delivering an unforgettable event that reaches far beyond the sport itself.
The announcement was made at Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) headquarters in Johannesburg, where Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie joined CSA officials in presenting the board that will steer preparations for the continent’s biggest cricket spectacle since 2003.
The LOCB will be chaired by former Finance Minister and veteran anti-apartheid activist Trevor Manuel, who brings decades of leadership in governance and economic planning. He is joined by a distinguished panel including former Deputy President Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as an Independent Non-Executive Director, alongside figures from business, law, and academia.
Speaking at the launch, CSA President Rihan Richards described the World Cup as “an event about inclusivity, access, and creating something truly within the African perspective.” Richards stressed that the tournament would not only attract international fans but also inspire grassroots development and expand cricket’s reach into communities that have historically been excluded from the sport.
Trevor Manuel echoed this broader vision, insisting that the success of the tournament “will depend largely on government support to ensure an exceptional visitor experience. The experience is what matters, not just the game.”
Maropene Ramokgopa, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, framed the World Cup as a “premium mega sport event that leaves a legacy and unites a nation,”while keynote speaker and journalist Mandy Weiner reminded guests of sport’s unique capacity to lift national morale. “Sport has a huge role to play in increasing the country’s mood, in terms of the Happiness Index,” she said.
Minister McKenzie was emphatic that the event would not be confined to privileged circles. “We are unapologetic when it comes to the inclusion of the masses of our people,”he said, pledging that townships and disadvantaged communities would see tangible benefits. He pointed to the moral authority of the LOCB members, many of whom dedicated their lives to fighting inequality, as assurance that this World Cup will avoid becoming “an elitist event.”
Independent studies suggest that more than 27,000 jobs could be created, with the tournament contributing over R15 billion to South Africa’s GDP. Small businesses and local entrepreneurs are expected to play a central role in maximising the economic footprint.
CSA Board Chairperson Pearl Maphoshe underlined that the tournament was “significant, not just for South Africa but for Africa as a whole. This is more than a sporting event. It is a national and continental project.”
In the words of Minister McKenzie, the tournament’s legacy must be measured not only in packed stadiums and television ratings but in its power to ignite hope: “We are going to make sure that all townships benefit. This will not be just a Sandton event.”
The 2027 Cricket World Cup will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. In South Africa, 44 matches are scheduled across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, East London and Paarl, with Zimbabwe and Namibia staging a further 10 fixtures in Harare, Bulawayo and Windhoek
The tournament will be contested in October and November 2027, coinciding with the Rugby World Cup in Australia. With both global events vying for attention in traditional cricket and rugby markets such as England, New Zealand, Wales, Australia, Scotland and South Africa, the LOCB faces the critical task of ensuring that fans and sponsors view the Cricket World Cup as the premier sporting attraction of the season
With just over two years to prepare, the LOCB carries both the responsibility and the promise of delivering a World Cup that unites a nation, strengthens an economy, and leaves behind a story as enduring as the cricket itself.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Local Organising Committee Board of Directors
Trevor Manuel, Independent Chairman of the Board
Johannes Adams, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
Yunus Bobat, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
Herman Bosman, Independent Non-Executive Director
Vuyani Jarana, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director.
Nomfanelo Magwentshu, Independent Non-Executive Director
Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Independent Non-Executive Director
Ravi Naidoo, Independent Non-Executive Director
Dr. Stavros Nicolaou, Independent Non-Executive Director
Advocate Philip October, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
Advocate Karrisha Pillay SC, Independent Non-Executive Director
Unathi Matthew Tshotwana, Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
EX Officio
Pholetsi Moseki, Ex-Officio – Chief Executive Officer CSA
Tjaart van der Walt, Ex-Officio – Chief Financial Officer CSA
Refentse Shinners, Ex-Officio – Public Affairs Executive CSA.