The beloved and widely respected South African TV executive who moved over from SABC2 as programme manager to helm SABC3 and steer the public broadcaster's only commercial TV channel back to respectability and profitability two years ago, told shocked SABC3 staff in a meeting on Tuesday that he's leaving.
Flabbergasted SABC3 staffers had no idea. According to insiders Ed Worster's last working day at SABC3 will be a week from now, next Friday 15 February.
The SABC has responded to a media enquiry, saying "the SABC can confirm that Ed Worster is retiring and not resigning". Since Ed Worster isn't 60 yet, according to sources, it means early retirement which is making his departure from the SABC so unexpected where he's worked for three decades and been a fixture on the television executive scene.
Ed Worster has been well-liked and respected both within the corridors of Auckland Park as well as within the broader South African TV industry. His departure is a major loss for not just the South African public broadcaster for for television in South Africa.
The SABC now says that "he is still with the corporation and when the times comes, the SABC will announce who will be appointed in the position".
Ed Worster says "having joined the SABC 30 years ago in 1983 as a studio floor manager, the time has come for me to retire from the corporation".
"I have enjoyed my years with the SABC which have been filled with many rich experiences, but I am looking forward to taking up new opportunities that will give me a fresh perspective on the industry. I will miss the incredible people here that have such a passion for broadcasting, and wish the TV team every success as they seek to offer the best in public broadcasting to South African audiences," says Ed Worster.
