SuperSport release fresh statement as SA race row heats up
SuperSport are holding a meeting in Johannesburg today with all the presenters involved in the controversial walk on the show on Saturday night.
In dramatic scenes on Saturday night, Willemse stormed out of the SuperSport 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 professional career and that he refused to be made fun of before dramatically walking off set.
His grievance appeared to be directed at fellow pundits Nick Mallett and Naas Botha – who he referred to as ‘apartheid era’ players.
“I’ve been in the game for a long time like most of us here. As a player, I’ve been called a quota for a long time and I’ve worked very hard to earn the respect I have now. I’m not going to sit here and be patronised by these two individuals (Mallett and Botha) who played their rugby during the apartheid era, a segregated era.”
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SuperSports are investigating the matter and released a statement today that reads: “SuperSport has noted with concern the events that saw presenter Ashwin Willemse walk out of the SuperSport studio on Saturday evening.
“A preliminary investigation is underway and will include senior management meeting with all the presenters (Ashwin Willemse, Nick Mallett, Naas Botha and Motshidisi Mohono) and the production staff in Johannesburg on Monday. 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.
SuperSport views this incident in a serious light – we will conduct a full investigation and interview all relevant individuals.
— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) May 19, 2018
Said Calvo Mawela, CEO: Multichoice SA, the parent company of SuperSport: “SuperSport has taken note of the strong public sentiment and we take this matter seriously. Whatever the findings, appropriate action will be taken to remedy the situation. Prejudice of any sort will not be tolerated by SuperSport. SuperSport will keep the public and media informed of the investigation.”
On Sunday Minister of Sport and Recreation, Tokozile Xasa, rowed in behind Willemse, stating: “It is clear that Ashwin Willemse was referred as a quota player by his fellow panelists despite his many successes in the field of play, I call upon SuperSport to suspend the two panelists while they are busy with full investigation.”
“The continued appearance of Mallet and Botha will be seen as an endorsement of their alleged racist behavior.”
Former South African players have also voiced their views on the incident on Twitter, including Gio Aplon and Tonderai Chavanga.
I believe all @Ashwinwillemse wanted was to be treated fairly and equally by his counterparts,nothing more,nothing less..and for standing up for that I salute him..#wasntaboutrace
— Gio Aplon (@1GioAplon) May 20, 2018
Ashwin Willemse is an upstanding role model. People must not jump to conclusions before knowing why he reacted the way he did.
— Tonderai Chavhanga (@tchavhanga) May 19, 2018
The South African Department of Sport are enforcing regulations that mean that by 2019 50 percent of the Springbok team are required to be players of colour, with 60 percent of those players needing to be ‘black African’.
The controversial system has its critics, both within and outside South Africa.
Willemse played on the wing for South Africa between 2003 and 2007, scoring 5 tries in 19 appearances.
In 2003 he was named SA Rugby Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year at the end of that season – despite only turning 22 a few months earlier.
The Springbok website describe him as “a tough a teak winger with a lot of speed to burn, a nose for the tryline and great anticipation. He played in two Rugby World Cups and was part of the squad that won the tournament in France in 2007 – his last season in international rugby.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Dickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to comments