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Dramatic about-turn in TV saga

All three analysts have been stood down, after discussions between the trio and their employer SuperSport broke down.

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As a result, Willemse, along with and co-presenters Nick Mallett and Naas Botha, was stood down on Friday.

According to a statement from the broadcaster, the trio will not feature on the pay-television station for the foreseeable future.

SuperSport has, instead, opted for an independent review of the matter‚ chaired by Advocate Vincent Maleka.

The mediator is tasked with resolving the issues around Willemse’s dissatisfaction with allegedly being undermined by Mallett and Botha.

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.

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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.

The trio was initially locked in "robust discussions" for most of the day, this past Monday, with SuperSport CEO Gideon Khobane and MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela.

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According to Khobane and Mawela, there was "no racism" at play when Willemse walked out of the studio at the weekend.

However, what is now described as "profoundly complex" issues, resulted in a breakdown in the talks.

SuperSport on Friday admitted that – "despite good progress initially" – the matter has not been resolved.

"We have therefore decided to instruct an independent Senior Counsel‚ Advocate Vincent Maleka‚ to chair a review of the incident‚ which occurred and to make recommendations to our management."

Dramatic about-turn in TV saga

Dramatic about-turn in TV saga

Dramatic about-turn in TV saga

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."

 

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