Press Club secretary resigns

CAPE TOWN Press Club secretary Donwald Pressly has resigned after being suspended for his “astonishingly vitriolic attack” on National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete and National Council of Provinces chairperson Thandi Modise.

The club’s vicechairperson Martin Slabbert-Capper yesterday told the Cape Times that its committee had accepted Pressly’s resignation with immediate effect.

“Mr Pressly said he was keen that the club did not suffer any reputational damage in any way going forward, hence his resignation. We consider this matter closed. The Cape Town Press Club is a nonpartisan platform, and we look forward to continuing to attract speakers from across the political spectrum and from all walks of life,” said Slabbert-Capper.

In reply to a request that Pressly alert the club members about a mid-term report briefing on the work of the fifth Parliament last year, he asked: “What is so important about ANC thugs wanting to advertise their press conference, which is not our function.”

Mbete and Modise were to address the briefing.

Pressly was previously dismissed by Independent Media as Business Report’s Cape Town bureau chief and parliamentary correspondent following an internal disciplinary process over his conduct in 2014.

He was found to have violated the company’s editorial code of conduct and code of ethics by applying to become a DA MP while employed by the company. The DA rejected his application.

Pressly said: “I decided to resign to avoid any embarrassment for the Press Club. I have no interest in undermining the name of the club. I thought it was best to quietly leave the organisation and I will be working closely with the new administration so they can continue with the good work.”

He said the comments made were made in an internal WhatsApp secured message which “was leaked to the Speaker’s office”.

“This remark was made within the privacy of the committee. I regret the statement and I apologise. I should have never have made the statement and I regret the statement. I had at no time wanted to undermine the ANC in any way.”

Parliament welcomed his resignation, saying it was encouraging the club’s members distanced themselves from his comments.