It has been reliably learnt by the Mail & Guardian Online that former editor of the Sunday Times, Mathatha Tsedu, is to become deputy editor at South Africa’s newest daily newspaper, ThisDay.
However, Tsedu said on Friday morning that he was “not going anywhere” and would not confirm his latest posting.
While not confirming Tsedu’s appointment, Justice Malala, editor of ThisDay told the Mail & Guardian Online that “Mathatha is a fantastic man … and obviously if he’s available he will be of interest to us”.
“If he were to express interest in our publication, it would be a pleasure and an honour to work with him in whatever capacity.”
Tsedu was dismissed as editor on November 8 and said he had been caught in a bind between serving the majority of the paper’s readers, who are black, and producing a newspaper white advertisers saw as “upwardly”.
After that weekend, media group Johnnic Communications (Johncom) rejected what it called unsubstantiated allegations by Tsedu of ulterior motives as the reason for his dismissal.
Citing what it referred to as the “real issues” behind Tsedu’s dismissal, Johncom CEO Connie Molusi said Tsedu was dismissed for failing to “edit the newspaper in a manner consistent with his contract of employment”.
“We are committed to quality,” asserted Molusi, adding that Tsedu had also failed to meet the requirements of the Johnnic Communications board’s written mission statement that the editor of the Sunday Times produce an “independent quality newspaper that sustains our democracy, is trusted by its readers and advertisers, is targeted at those people in living standards measures (LSM) categories 6 to 10 in South Africa and Southern Africa, and is profitable”.
“We are committed to our principles. Mr Tsedu’s failure to meet these requirements has resulted in both a loss of circulation and of readers of all races in our key target audience.
“In terms of circulation, the Sunday Times has sold an average of 5 600 fewer copies a week over the past six months than it did in the same period last year (excluding bulk and sponsored education sales). This has resulted in circulation revenue being R1,7-million behind budget. We are committed to our shareholders,” Molusi continued.
Molusi also rejected allegations by Tsedu that management and staff had not supported his drive to transform the Sunday Times into an “African” product.