 It also pointed to a June 2005 staff exodus which was suspected as being a purge of people opposed to Zikalala's political views.Perlman's departure and the lack of action against Zikalala was condemned by media commentators and political parties from COSATU to the Democratic Alliance as a worrying development for media freedom in South Africa.On Perlman's first "After 8 Debate" call-in show after his upcoming departure became public, a discussion of the SA film industry began with a caller referring to the "horror movie" of John Perlman's departure.