Equality Court next stop for Willemse
Ashwin Willemse's legal team has confirmed they will be taking the SuperSport matter to South Africa's Equality Court.
Last month former Springbok Ashwin Willemse stormed off the SuperSport set during a live discussion after the Lions' Super Rugby victory over the Brumbies, alleging that Nick Mallett and Naas Botha had 'undermined' and 'patronised' him.
The incident sparked a racial debate in South Africa as well as in Namibia.
On Tuesday, SuperSport released their findings of an independent review that found there had been no racism involved.
Willemse, although he did not attend any of the review dates, maintains that racism was at the core of what had transpired.
According to SuperSport CEO Gideon Khobane, Willemse had opted not to take part in the review because he felt that it was not the right forum for the issue to be discussed.
Now, we seem to have a clearer understanding of what forum Willemse would find appropriate.
According to Jacaranda FM in South Africa, Willemse's legal team will be approaching the Equality Court to ask it to probe further into the review.
The station spoke to Willemse's lawyer, Nqobizitha Mlilo, who referred to the independent review as a “fruitless exercise”.
Mlilo added the SuperSport report was one-sided. “We believe the whole incident is rooted in racism. We are at an advanced stage with preparing those documents, and we will be approaching the Equality Court,” Mlilo confirmed.
In May, when approached for comment on this matter, veteran Namibian rugby administrator, Corrie Mensah, said it is a sensitive matter and should be treated as such, so that the image of Namibian rugby is also uplifted as it prepares to qualify for the World Cup next year.
Mensah further said there are many issues which have left a bad taste in his mouth, pertaining to rugby, but that one has to analyse strategically. He said just like many other rugby lovers that a probe into what really happened behind the curtains, which resulted in Willemse walking off set, should be launched and concluded.
“One never knows. Maybe they have an issue which has been fuelling for some time and it got unbearable for Willemse; we have to wait and see.”
He then spoke about transformation in Namibian rugby saying that there are two cornerstones, which are training and development.
“We do not have to look far to ask if we are well in the line with transformation in Namibia. It is a big challenge. There is a decline of rugby at school level.
Two years ago we had 114 school clubs. Now we have 79.
“Women rugby had five clubs. Now we only have two and they have not even played competitively for years. We are not in a good place, even with our sevens teams,” he said. Mensah, who is the Namibia Rugby Union (NRY) president, further said he is focused on restructuring and putting certain things in place to ensure that nothing negative happens while he holds office in Namibia. -Additional info by sport24
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The incident sparked a racial debate in South Africa as well as in Namibia.
On Tuesday, SuperSport released their findings of an independent review that found there had been no racism involved.
Willemse, although he did not attend any of the review dates, maintains that racism was at the core of what had transpired.
According to SuperSport CEO Gideon Khobane, Willemse had opted not to take part in the review because he felt that it was not the right forum for the issue to be discussed.
Now, we seem to have a clearer understanding of what forum Willemse would find appropriate.
According to Jacaranda FM in South Africa, Willemse's legal team will be approaching the Equality Court to ask it to probe further into the review.
The station spoke to Willemse's lawyer, Nqobizitha Mlilo, who referred to the independent review as a “fruitless exercise”.
Mlilo added the SuperSport report was one-sided. “We believe the whole incident is rooted in racism. We are at an advanced stage with preparing those documents, and we will be approaching the Equality Court,” Mlilo confirmed.
In May, when approached for comment on this matter, veteran Namibian rugby administrator, Corrie Mensah, said it is a sensitive matter and should be treated as such, so that the image of Namibian rugby is also uplifted as it prepares to qualify for the World Cup next year.
Mensah further said there are many issues which have left a bad taste in his mouth, pertaining to rugby, but that one has to analyse strategically. He said just like many other rugby lovers that a probe into what really happened behind the curtains, which resulted in Willemse walking off set, should be launched and concluded.
“One never knows. Maybe they have an issue which has been fuelling for some time and it got unbearable for Willemse; we have to wait and see.”
He then spoke about transformation in Namibian rugby saying that there are two cornerstones, which are training and development.
“We do not have to look far to ask if we are well in the line with transformation in Namibia. It is a big challenge. There is a decline of rugby at school level.
Two years ago we had 114 school clubs. Now we have 79.
“Women rugby had five clubs. Now we only have two and they have not even played competitively for years. We are not in a good place, even with our sevens teams,” he said. Mensah, who is the Namibia Rugby Union (NRY) president, further said he is focused on restructuring and putting certain things in place to ensure that nothing negative happens while he holds office in Namibia. -Additional info by sport24
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