PRIMEDIA condemns ANCYL Statement on Kirsh Family Links

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:44

The Primedia Group has strongly condemned a media statement by the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) under the heading "Agang and DA Political Parties tied to Israeli Funding and Imperialist Agenda".

In the statement the ANCYL links the Kirsh family to the current Primedia Group.

Executive Chairman of Primedia, Kuben Pilay, said the statement was riddled with "inaccuracies, misinformation, misrepresentation and malicious comments about the company. It is defamatory."

In the statement, the ANCYL says that William Kirsh is the current CEO of Primedia. They further say that Primedia is "owned" by Issie Kirsh, brother of Nathan Kirsh.

Issie Kirsh stepped down as executive chairman of the Primedia Group in 2000. He was replaced by Paul Nkuna, who was also CEO of the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC) at the time.

William Kirsh resigned as CEO of Primedia in 2009 and was replaced by Kuben Pillay. Pillay is also the current chairman of MIC.

Earlier this year Pillay took up the position of Executive Chairman and Roger Jardine was appointed CEO of the Group.

The majority of shares in Primedia are currently being held by Mineworkers Investement Company (MIC), Brait, Rand Merchant Bank, and Old Mutual.

Pillay said that there was no attempt by ANCYL to ascertain the correct facts before issuing a statement to the media.

Primedia's attorneys are also dealing with two individuals who have been spreading this false information on social media and will also be sending a letter of demand to the ANCYL.

Primedia CEO, Roger Jardine, said: "We have a history of being independent and giving all political parties balanced and fair coverage. We refuse to be drawn into political mud-slinging."

Primedia has called on the ANCYL to retract its statement immediately and apologise unreservedly.

Statement issued by Primedia, February 11 2014

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