FILE PHOTO: Robert Marawa at the SABC studios. PICTURE: Leon Sadiki/City Press
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0 CAPE TOWN: Mr Marawa was informed three months prior to the end of his contract that it would not be renewed.
The SABC has told the Parliament’s Communications Committee that popular sports presenter, Mr Robert Marawa, was informed three months prior to the end of his contract that it would not be renewed.
The termination of Marawa’s contract was raised by one of the members of the committee who questioned the way he left the public broadcaster.
It was at this time that the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni requested the SABC to respond, she, however, cautioned members to avoid making it a tendency to get involved in employee relations matters.
After that, the SABC COO, Mr Ian Platjies then indicated that the public broadcaster had entered into a cost reduction phase and it started reducing independent contractors a year ago, but no contractor was dismissed until their contracts ended.
“In the case of [Mr] Robert Marawa he had a three-year contract with the SABC, the SABC informed him three months prior to his contract coming to an end that it would not be renewed,” he said.
“He posted a tweet that erroneously stated that his contract was cancelled by a text on the same day,” he added.
Mr Marawa in an apparent acrimonious way was “told by text message” not to return to work for his final show. It’s the second time that Mr Marawa has been fired by the public broadcaster after the two were at loggerheads in 2017.
Mr Marawa returned to the broadcast to run a simulcast sports show that aired on Radio 2000 and Metro FM called Marawa Sports Worldwide (MSW).
However, things again turned sour between Mr Marawa and his employers, who told him via text message that he needn’t bother returning to the studio for his final show on Friday.
The SABC also released experienced sports presenter, Ms Vaylen Kirtley in the same press statement announcing Mr Marawa’s departure.
Kirtley famously interviewed Makhaya Ntini in 2020 when he revealed his “loneliness” inside the Proteas team environment, which caused the former Proteas fast bowler to forego the team bus and run from training grounds to the team hotel.
“The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) would like to announce the departure of renowned sports broadcasters, Mr. Robert Marawa and Ms. Vaylen Kirtley. Robert Marawa departs following the conclusion of the MSW (Marawa Sport Worldwide), which Marawa presented on both METRO FM and Radio 2000 simultaneously,” the SABC wrote in their statement.
Recently, in an interview on eNCA, Mr Marawa admitted to being informed by the SABC three months prior to his contract coming to an end that it was not being renewed.
“The SABC is satisfied with the current talent that it has and there has been no impact,” added Mr Platjies.
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