Thursday, September 6, 2018
Rugby commentator Ashwin Willemse out at SuperSport after contract not renewed.
Rugby commentator Ashwin Willemse is out at SuperSport and won't be seen on DStv again after his SuperSport contract wasn't renewed.
It's not clear whether SuperSport didn't offer him a contract extension, or whether he was offered one and refused.
On 19 May DStv subscribers watched transfixed at the live in-studio blow-out between Ashwin Willemse and Nick Mallett and Naas Botha, who walked off set after saying they had "undermined" and "patronised" him.
SuperSport and MultiChoice were engulfed in a firestorm of public opinion, with Naspers' pay-TV division that launched an internal inquiry.
SuperSport and MultiChoice said that the inquiry found no racism but it was one that Ashwin Willemse didn't participate in.
Ashwin Willemse said he didn't want to be a part of the inquiry, and through his lawyers said was a racist incident.
MultiChoice and SuperSport's inquiry did find tension on set in the past between Nick Mallett and Ashwin Willemse, with Nick Mallett who told SuperSport producers that he doesn't want to present with Ashwin Willemse.
Clinton van der Berg, SuperSport spokesperson told TVwithThinus on Thursday that "Ashwin Willemse’s contract with SuperSport has expired and he will not be back on air".
"We have not heard from the Equality Court. We are in communication with the South African Human Rights Commission. We referred advocate Maleka SC’s report to the Commission, in accordance with one of his recommendations following his independent review of the matter."