OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday
RADIO 702 talk show host John Robbie has thrown down the gauntlet to the ruling ANC government by suggesting that Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang appear on his show to clarify the government’s view on HIV/Aids.
Following his much-publicised on-air spat last week with Tshabalala-Msimang last week, Robbie admitted he had acted unprofessionally in losing his his temper and to allow the interview to degenerate into a slanging match, but said the matter had been blown out of proportion by the ANC.
The ANC has thrown its weight behind the minister and called for Robbie’s immediate resignation or dismissal.
Never one to back down, the former Irish rugby scrumhalf has now taken on his bosses, radio station owners Primedia, calling them “gutless” for apologising to the minister. Primedia is expected to meet with the ANC to discuss the matter.
Robbie returned to work this week after a few days off work and told listeners he had resigned shortly before his show on Thursday after pressure to apologise by Primedia.
Robbie said he decided to withdraw the resignation after support from Radio 702 staffers.
During the live interview that caused all the trouble on his Gauteng show, Tshabalala-Msimang declined to say whether she believed the human immunodeficiency virus caused Aids.
The minister said: “I have answered that question. You will not force me into a corner into saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’. You will not pressure me to answer that.”
Exasperated, Robbie told her to “go away” and that he had never heard “such rubbish”.
Robbie said he would have been willing to apologise was it not for “threats” in the ANC’s first press release in which the party said it would be “difficult” for them to have anything more to do with the station.