The South African cricket board elected its first-ever black African president.

The 66-year-old Ray Mali, a former president of the Border Cricket Union in the town of East London, was elected at the United Cricket Board's annual general meeting in Pretoria on Saturday and takes over from Percy Sonn.

Besides, Mali, who has been involved in cricket for more than 40 years, three other black African administrators were elected to serve on the national council of the UCB -- Peter Bacela, Tim Khumalo and Oupa Nkagisang.

South African cricket is now almost totally in the hands of black Africans with Mali as president and Gerald Majola as the Chief Executive Officer.

Mali follows in the footsteps of Krish Mackerdhuj, an Indian-origin South African and Sonn, a coloured administrator who were elected to the top position after unity in cricket in South Africa more than 10 years ago.

Mackerdhuj is now serving as South Africa's ambassador to Japan and Sonn is a Cape Town advocate who has been the president over the past five years.

Four Indian-origin administrators have also been elected to serve on the national council -- Sathie Govender of KwaZulu-Natal; Cassim Suliman of Eastern Province; Judge Mahomed Jahbhay of Gauteng in Johannesburg; and Ahmed Jinnah of the Griqualand West Cricket Union.

Mali said in his presidential address that the next decade would mark a new era for South African cricket.