'Feuding' presenters will share studio on Saturday
According to a media release issued by SuperSport, the trio – Ashwin Willemse, Naas Botha and Nick Mallet – kissed and made up … almost.
The trio was locked in "robust discussions" for most of the day, on Monday, with SuperSport CEO Gideon Khobane and MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela.
According to Khobane and Mawela, there was "no racism" at play when Willemse walked out of the studio at the weekend.
Willemse, a celebrated Springbok, dramatically removed his microphone and walked off, live on air, while having been afforded an opportunity to air his opinion after the Super Rugby encounter between the Lions and Brumbies in Johannesburg at the weekend.
The dramatic scenes, caught on camera, show Willemse storm out of their studio, despite being live on air.
Willemse – who won 19 caps for the Springboks – spoke to camera regarding how he was perceived as a "quota player" during his playing days and that he refused to be 'patronised' – before dramatically walking off the set.
His grievance appeared to be directed at fellow pundits Nick Mallett and Naas Botha – who he referred to as "apartheid era" players.
The incident has elicited strong reactions, with heavy racial undertones.
"What is encouraging with the discussions, we've had, is that Nick [Mallet], Naas [Botha], and also Ashwin [Willemse], were part of the discussions," Mawela told a media briefing.
"They were all in the same room; they were courteous to each other; they shook hands; they openly [chatted].
"There is no animosity that exists between the three of them from what we could see today," Mawela added.
The SuperSport CEO, Khobane, said they did not intend sweeping anything under the carpet and would instead deal with the issue fairly.
"This has become a national issue. We at SuperSport and MultiChoice treat this issue with all the seriousness it deserves," he said.
"We've had very robust discussions today from 7 o'clock this morning with all the role players involved. We recognise that we need further engagements," he added.
"We are positive that this was not a racially motivated issue because all parties were very courteous during our discussions that started this morning‚" Khobane said.
In a media release, it was revealed that the trio will all three resume duties.
It is basically 'business as usual'.
"There was a significant move in the parties finding common ground," the statement said.
"This is merely the first stage of the process to address the issues raised by the weekend’s events."
Statement issued on behalf of Minister of Sport and Recreation Tokozile Xasa
"This behaviour of entitlement by some white South Africans who continue to think that their whiteness represents better must come to an end, if it was not for a barbaric nonsensical apartheid system that privileged them we could not have implemented quota system to normalize an otherwise abnormal system.
"Willemse is not just a former Springbok player but in 2003 he was named SA Rugby Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and the Player’s Player of the Year. Players like Willemse, (Bryan) Habana and (Siya) Kolisi continue to make us proud as a nation and affirm that they are not token players or quota players.
"The Department of Sport & Recreation through its transformation charter that was adopted in 2011 noted that quota system has been largely unsuccessful in bringing about an effectively transformed sports system and is causing substantial consequential damage for many black players who were labelled as ‘tokens’, and referred to as mere replacement of white face with a black face.
"It is clear that Ashwin Willemse was referred as a quota player by his fellow panellists despite his many successes in the field of play, I call upon SuperSport to suspend the two panellists while they are busy with the full investigation.
"The continued appearance of Mallet and Botha will be seen as an endorsement of their alleged racist behaviour."
"We don't think it was a racially motivated issue" – Gideon Khobane, #SuperSport CEO.
"From what we could pick up today, there was no racism involved" – Calvo Mawela, #Multichoice CEO.
Oh dear…no "racism" narrative regarding #AshwinWillemse walk-off.
What will SJWs say now?
— Sihle Ngobese (@BigDaddyLiberty) May 21, 2018
MultiChoice media briefing on the Ashwin Willemse walkout is heart warming.
They confirmed that their meeting:
1. Was in good spirit
2. That the parties are prepared to continue to work together
3. That is was not a racial issue
Nick, Naas, Ashwin take a Bells! pic.twitter.com/raZNCTyy6X
— JG (Johan) van Zyl ✍ (@JGvanZyl_ZA) May 21, 2018
#AshwinWillemse Nick Mallet has just left the Multichoice building, says he has to go see a doctor. SuperSport CEO Gideon Khobane will address the gathered media informally and there will no longer be a formal press briefing pic.twitter.com/QHuFdhyy4R
— EWN Sport (@EWNsport) May 21, 2018
#AshwinWillemse Khobane: We can’t tell how long it will be until we reach a conclusion
— EWN Sport (@EWNsport) May 21, 2018
