Prof. Willie Esterhuyse

(Klik hier vir oorspronklike brief in Afrikaans)

Prof Willie Esterhuyse is a highly respected and leading South African writer, philosopher and intellectual.

His books and writings are found on the bookshelves of international libraries of learning and his achievements and leadership positions span an astonishing array of academic and life disciplines.

Numerous are his authoritative contributions where only the most creative of minds and innovative intellects could combine in analysing the perplexing issues of the time and setting standards for moral and ethical human and corporate responses.

Indeed, as formidable an ally and associate as he has proven to be, he also is known as a daunting and fearless adversary. His role in the abolition of apartheid is a matter of recorded and noted history.

Among his many awards, three are only for the few: an honorary doctorate from the University of Stellenbosch (2003), the Order of the Baobab by the Business Ethics Network of Africa (2014) and the RSA Order of Luthuli (Silver Class) (2003).

Privileged were those who could secure his wisdom and insights on their boards or their podiums. As incisive and compelling as he is face to face, equally so is he with pen in hand.

When the Media24’ book “The lost Boys of Bird Island” came to his attention, Prof. Esterhuyse, responded with revulsion to its contents and the massively unfair trauma it inflicted on three former Ministers’ legacies and their families.

He was equally dismayed by the disregard displayed by the Boards of Media24 and NASPERS, for the dictates of the King IV Report, by printing a book so damaging to the reputation of Tafelberg, a historic and once revered book publisher.

It inspired Prof. Esterhuyse to express his condemnation in letters to newspapers, appended below, the last two of which were co-authored by Dr Chris Jones:

This letter from emeritus professor of philosophy and business ethics, Willie Esterhuyse, also a seasoned columnist, was published in Die Burger on 11 April 2019.

		Letter No. 1
	Author:	Prof. Willie Esterhuyse
Newspaper	Die Burger (DB)	Volksblad (VB)	Beeld (B)	Rapport (R)
Date	2019/04/11

“Seasoned ex-Nasperser Hennie van Deventer has twice critically inquired via letters to Die Burger about the credibility and public consequences of the sensational book The Lost Boys of Bird Island. His efforts have thus far not yielded any clarity on the issue.

As a regular reader of Die Burger and supporter of Naspers for many years (my first book, Afskeid van Apartheid, was in 1979 published by Danie van Niekerk of Tafelberg), I want to join Van Deventer in asking: What does Media 24’s board of directors think of this unsavoury business that has even managed to feature on Carte Blanche? Or has there per chance been a stance / statement about this sensational and, in my opinion, doubtful affair, as well as about the interest of good governance, that I may unfortunately not have taken note of?

In terms of corporate accountability, boards of directors can neither remain silent, nor wash their hands in innocence. Therefore – what does the board of Media 24 have to say about this book catastrophe?

I have a proposal:

1. Withdraw the book from the market and apologise to the affected parties for sloppy corporate supervision.
2. Claim money back that has been paid to sensation-hungry authors.
3. Offer the profits that have been made, plus 10% in addition, to the affected persons to donate to an institution of their choice that promotes good and morally accountable corporate governance.
4. Pledge to not abuse sensation in order to boost profit figures.

In my opinion: Bird Island represents an all-time low in the proud history of Naspers.

Or has money become more important than values to the company?”

ooooo00000ooooo

		Letter No. 2
	Author:	Prof. Willie Esterhuyse
Newspaper	Die Burger (DB)	Volksblad (VB)	Beeld (B)	Rapport (R)
Date	2019/04/15

I am reasonably well acquainted with some of the Tafelberg staff who were involved with the publication of Bird Island. The appreciation I have for them, is no secret. They are not sensational conspirators against Magnus Malan and his troops.

I was not friends with Magnus Malan. Nor was he exactly excited about my existence. I however had the greatest respect for his brother and sister – and still do. Magnus Malan a paedophile? Not in my book and knowledge of him. In my opinion Bird Island is merely a typically sensationalistic business aimed at maximal financial gain and devised to attract attention.

Since Rapport has now offered an apology, the question arises: What about the board of directors at Media24? Is that not where the issue of corporate accountability and moral oversight should begin? Surely it cannot only be about figures for Media24, without including moral responsibility, corporate oversight and values for good governance?

What stance is the board of Media24 taking on the book? An accurate rendition of Malan and company’s so-called shenanigans? Or is it not a matter for the board to contemplate?

A second question: Would it not be proper to present the profit made by this fake book to the affected persons, for them to donate in turn to a “good organisation” of their choice?

And what about the payments that have been made to the authors of the fabricated book? It should be recouped from them.

Or are we to be content with the fact that Media24 accepts fake books as long as they make money?

ooooo00000ooooo

		Letter No. 3
	Author:	Hennie van Deventer
Newspaper	Die Burger (DB)	Volksblad (VB)	Beeld (B)	Rapport (R)
Date	2020-03-13
Heading	DB: “Measure the Bird Island Book by the King Reports”

“The Tafelberg Publishers debacle over the “bestseller” The Lost Boys of Bird Island can simply not be disregarded – not even with the best will in the world.

The legal manoeuvre to apologise to Barend du Plessis, whilst at the same time threatening with other appropriate steps if there should be further actions, is such an arrogant swipe, particularly at the recommendations of King IV, that the question begs: Is there a difference between Tafelberg’s actions and Steinhoff’s manoeuvres?

After all, both made money by disregarding basic principles of the King reports.

I apologise if I do not understand this matter properly anymore due to age challenges. Regarding fake books too. In my opinion, The Lost Boys of Bird Island was a fake book, without any shred of material evidence.

My simple question is this: If it stands that King IV focusses on, amongst other things, moral leadership and accountable citizenship, had the notable board of NB spoken about this and if so, what had the board’s decision on the issue been?

Is it not a given that boards of directors should, after King, take final responsibility for good corporate management, moral leadership and responsible citizenship? In my eyes, it excludes legal manoeuvres. Or doesn’t it?

Therefore, was Tafelberg’s “apology” compliant with the opinion in the King reports on good corporate control, management, moral leadership and responsible citizenship?

No wonder the country is in the situation it currently finds itself in!”

ooooo00000ooooo

---

Chris Jones

---

		Letter No. 4
	Authors: Prof. Willie Esterhuyse & Dr Chris Jones
Newspaper	Die Burger (DB)	Volksblad (VB)	Beeld (B)	Rapport (R)
Date				2020-05-12

“In response to the book The Lost Boys of Bird Island and former minister Barend du Plessis’ article on these pages last week, we have a few questions for the publisher Tafelberg and Media24’s board of directors.

Unlike the apology by Rapport, that of Tafelberg Publishers is, in our opinion and also the opinion of many others, completely inadequate. Whilst the publisher does acknowledge regarding the book, that the “contentious passages [in the book] could not be independently verified”, they address the apology only to Barend du Plessis (and his family). Why?

Does it imply that the contentious claims made in the book, concerning Magnus Malan and John Wiley, could actually be independently verified? And are the thousands of readers who have been misled by this book, not also owed an apology? Is it not a violation of their rights? Is a publisher not accountable to its readers?

A few days before publication of this book, Mark Minnie wrote to his co-author, as well as his editor/publisher, declaring that there had been no concrete evidence that any of the three implicated ministers had sexually molested a victim. And according to investigative journalist Jacques Pauw, Malan’s name had not been mentioned even once in the first two manuscripts that were written by Minnie.

Should that not have set the alarm bells ringing? A question that any seasoned publisher should after all ask in such circumstances, is: How will I best serve the truth with the least possible damage?

Moreover we would also like to know what the board of Media24 plans to do in terms of their moral responsibility, as well as corporate oversight and control, as explained in King IV, which is endorsed by Media24.

What is the Media24 board’s stance on the book? Furthermore: How many copies of this book have been sold? How much profit has been made? What form of reparative justice/restitution is envisaged, especially for the du Plessis family, who have received a specific apology? And wat about the royalty that was paid to the authors? Should it not be claimed back? The withdrawal of the book subsequent to the publisher’s apology after all appears to be an admission of guilt, right?

And in closing: Does the board stand by Tafelberg’s apology, specifically where they say “any effort to discredit the book and its contents (will be) defended in the appropriate forum”? How is it possible in view of the oaths, declaring that what is claimed in the book, could not possibly have happened?

For us this book represents an all-time low in the South African and the Afrikaans publishing trade. It has badly damaged the reputation, trademark value, public image of trust and historically impeccable integrity that has been built up over years under the name of Tafelberg publishers”.

ooooo00000ooooo

		Letter No. 5
	Authors: Prof. Willie Esterhuyse & Dr Chris Jones
Newspaper	Die Burger (DB)	Volksblad (VB)	Beeld (B)	Rapport (R)
Date				2020-05-31

“We have learned with (limited) appreciation of the two latest apologies by respectively Tafelberg Publishers and Media24 regarding the controversial book The Lost Boys of Bird Island.

Although the technical legalities regarding this matter are important, especially for the parties who have been harmed by this book, we can naturally not express our views about those issues.

Our concern is on a different level, namely that of corporate oversight and control, as explained in the King IV report which is endorsed by Media24 and Naspers.

We quote from the report:

“Accountability cannot be delegated, whereas responsibility can be delegated without abdicating accountability for that delegated responsibility”.

Our questions to the board of Naspers – who after all eventually remains accountable for this publication, and where the proverbial buck must stop, are the following: Are you for the sake of transparency, willing to reveal all relevant information/decisions/circumstances regarding the publishing of this book, for the sake of all interested parties? If not, why not, especially in light of King IV and other relevant comany law management processes? What are you going to do to ensure that something similar never happens again?

Are you willing to ensure that all references to this publication are removed from the internet as completely as possible, regardless of the cost involved, and to the satisfaction of the families involved?

Are you willing to apologise unconditionally to all the readers who have bought and read this book (presumably about 62 000 copies)? They have after all collectively spent millions of rands on the book

Besides the essential and rightful financial restitution to Mr Barend du Plessis (and his family), a positive response to the above-mentioned three issues would help to restore the human dignity of the parties on whom this book has left a blemish, as well as having tainted the reputation, brand quality, public image and historic integrity of Naspers”.

ooooo00000ooooo