Ashwin Willemse, Nick Mallet and Naas Botha reportedly met on Monday, with Supersport releasing a statement saying that meetings were positive, but just the first stage in the process to address the issues presented by the weekend’s events.
According to the statement, senior management and staff of Multichoice met not only with the three men at the centre of the controversy but also with presenter Motshidisi Mohono, director Anthony Banks and producer Mandla Ntsibande, who were all working on Saturday evening.
The meeting was described as “cordial, with the presenters engaging directly with one another”.
Ashwin Willemse said that he appreciated the process that Supersport has undertaken as the issues are profoundly complex. He called the discussions “robust”.
“We had robust discussions in which I aired my views. I’m very appreciative of the process undertaken by SuperSport. The complexity of the issues are very profound,” Willemse said.
Nick Mallet and Naas Botha both shared that they appreciated the space to air their views and grapple with the matter.
“I appreciated the opportunity to air my views. Clearly, there are issues that must be grappled with. I am more than happy to collaborate and contribute to resolving this matter,” was Mallet’s response.
Naas Botha said, “This was a first meeting and we all had our say, which was helpful. We’ve invested in a process to resolve matters and I’m confident that we will get a satisfactory resolution”.
The process is ongoing, with Supersport and Multichoice urging all parties to continue to engage deeply with the matter.
“SuperSport and MultiChoice have, however, requested all parties that we continue with a deeper engagement process to confront the complex issues which our past has thrust upon the workplace.
“This is merely the first stage of the process to address the issues raised by the weekend’s events,” the statement said.
On Saturday evening, former Springbok wing and Supersport analyst Willemse caused a furore when he walked off set while live on air.
Willemse walked off after calling fellow analysts Mallet and Botha out for patronising him.
The issue has seen people from across the board wade in with their opinions.
The Sports Minister called for Mallet and Botha to be suspended pending investigation, while chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for Sport and Recreation, Beauty Dlulana, called for calm heads and to determine whether racial discrimination was at the heart of the incident or not.
© TEAMtalk Media
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