SuperSport probing Ashwin Willemse walkout
SuperSport has expressed concern over an incident which saw
presenter Ashwin Willemse walk out of the studio on Saturday evening.
Willemse walked off the set of the post-match analysis of the Lions - Brumbies match, after an apparent disagreement with fellow panellists, Nick Mallett and Naas Botha.
Before leaving the studio the former Springbok winger said he felt "undermined" and "patronised" by Mallett and Botha.
SuperSport spokesperson Clinton van der Berg says senior management will meet with all the presenters on Monday.
The meeting will include Willemse, Mallett, Botha, presenter Motshidisi Mohono and the production staff.
"SuperSport acknowledges the comments from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation and will engage with Minister of Sport and Recreation Thokozile Xasa’s office in this regard," says Van der Berg.
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This after Xasa has threw her weight behind Willemse in a statement at the weekend.
Xasa called for Mallett and Botha to be suspended.
“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 full investigation.”
The minister believes, should no action be taken against Mallet and Botha, it will be seen as an endorsement of their behaviour.
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape has also reacted to the row by saying the culture of rugby in the country needs to change.
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