Johnnic's reasons for their dismissal of Mathatha Tsedu

The Johnnic Communications media statement reads as follows:

In dealing with the matter of the dismissal of Mathatha Tsedu as Editor of the Sunday Times, Johnnic Communications has sought to respect the necessary privacy between employer and employee. We note with regret that Mr Tsedu has not done the same. In the interests of fair and open communication, Johnnic Communications would thus like to address the recent media coverage on Mr Tsedu's dismissal as follows:

The Sunday Times has a proud, century-old history as South Africa's "Paper for the People". Simply put, our valued readers, advertisers and employees deserve nothing less than the best.

The real issues behind Mr Tsedu's dismissal are clear and straightforward:

1. Mr Tsedu was dismissed as Sunday Times editor for failing to edit the newspaper in a manner consistent with his contract of employment. We are committed to quality.

2. Mr Tsedu 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 6-10 in South Africa and Southern Africa, and is profitable." We are committed to our principles.

3. 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.

4. Johnnic Communications management believes that the major contributing factor behind a decline in sales and readers has been the loss of senior staff under Mr Tsedu's editorship and because he was all too often not at his desk when key decisions had to be made. We are committed to our readers, advertisers and employees.

5. Mr Tsedu alleges management and staff did not support his drive to transform the Sunday Times into an "African" product. In fact, long before his tenure, the Sunday Times had launched an Africa edition which is now the biggest-circulating South African paper outside the country's borders. Meanwhile, Johncom is in the process of purchasing newspapers in West and East Africa. Johncom is committed to our continent.

6. We reject Mr Tsedu's unsubstantiated allegations of ulterior motives as the reason for his dismissal. Our decision to terminate his employment related purely to his performance. Johncom as a company remains deeply committed to transformation and our record speaks for itself.

As the Sunday Times mission statement asserts, we are committed to delivering an independent quality newspaper that sustains our democracy -- and one that's trusted by our readers and advertisers.

The Sunday Times and its loyal readers, advertisers and employees deserve a top-quality editor. South Africa and the African continent deserve a top-quality Sunday Times.

We are committed to the delivery of both.

Connie Molusi
Chief Executive Officer
Johnnic Communications Limited