LISTEN: SuperSport probe into #AshwinWillemse walk-off could take weeks
Investigations into events surrounding the Ashwin Willemse on-air walk-off at the weekend could take some time to conclude.
That is the view of SuperSport communication's manager, Clinton van der Berg.
"We as SuperSport also need to be a bit inward looking, ourselves. Are our systems right, are we managing people properly, do we produce and direct properly? We are asking questions of ourselves as well. This is not going to be something that is wrapped up in a day or two. It might take a couple of weeks even," he said.
Yesterday, the sports channel held lengthy discussions over the on-air incident at the weekend, which saw Willemse walk off a live set following an apparent altercation with co-analysts, Nick Mallet and Naas Botha.
Willemse walked off the set during the post-match discussion after the Lions and Brumbies Super Rugby match on Saturday.
Van der Berg says it came out during yesterday's discussions that racism was not a factor.
"We as SuperSport also need to be a bit inward looking, ourselves. Are our systems right, are we managing people properly, do we produce and direct properly? We are asking questions of ourselves as well. This is not going to be something that is wrapped up in a day or two. It might take a couple of weeks even," he said.
Yesterday, the sports channel held lengthy discussions over the on-air incident at the weekend, which saw Willemse walk off a live set following an apparent altercation with co-analysts, Nick Mallet and Naas Botha.
Willemse walked off the set during the post-match discussion after the Lions and Brumbies Super Rugby match on Saturday.
The former Springbok winger claimed he was undermined and patronised by Mallet and Botha.
ALSO READ: Ashwin Willemse's live walk-off
Van der Berg says it came out during yesterday's discussions that racism was not a factor.
"Racism was not on the table at all. What we did was grapple with issues of perception, culture, background differences, it was very complex. As Ashwin said, the complexity of the issues is profound," said Van der Berg.
UPDATE: Following the on-air incident on Saturday, senior management and staff of MultiChoice and SuperSport met with the four presenters at SuperSport today.
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) May 21, 2018
Investigations are expected to continue today.
Van der Berg says all three analysts are expected to hold onto their roles as panellists ahead of this weekend's fixtures.
"They were all Springboks with big personalities and I think you do get clashes. It's your perception of a match or a tactic or coach or something like that. Sometimes things get a bit heated and that robustness is quite good and it makes for good television."
Van der Berg says all three analysts are expected to hold onto their roles as panellists ahead of this weekend's fixtures.
"They were all Springboks with big personalities and I think you do get clashes. It's your perception of a match or a tactic or coach or something like that. Sometimes things get a bit heated and that robustness is quite good and it makes for good television."
You can listen to Newswatch reporter, Jarryd Subroyen's full interview with Van der Berg below: