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The pressure is on as the SABC gears up to change its presenter line-ups on some of its radio stations.
Eyebrows were raised this week when popular 5FM host Thando Thabethe, announced her resignation.
She co-hosted The Thabooty Drive show on weekdays from 3pm to 6pm.
This was followed by the resignation of Majota “Phat Joe” Khambule from his breakfast show on Radio 2000.
City Press’ sister publication, Sunday Sun, understands that Thabethe will be moving to 5FM’s sister station, Metro FM, where she will host the afternoon drive show.
Well-placed sources claim that Thabethe is being moved to Metro in the hope that she will attract more listeners to the station.
“The SABC is hoping that having Thando on the afternoon drive will increase the listenership,” said a source.
“As things stand, co-hosts Sphe and Naves are not attracting an audience.”
Another insider said: “Thando is excited to be joining Metro, which is the biggest commercial radio station in Mzansi. Sphe and Naves, who moved to the prominent slot last year, will be moved to a weekend slot.”
According to insiders, the shake-up has already begun at some of the public broadcaster’s major radio stations.
Former eNCA news anchor Cathy Mohlahlana has allegedly bagged a lucrative slot on SAfm.
She is rumoured to be taking over from Bongi Gwala, who hosts The Talking Point show from 9am to midday on weekdays.
This week, Mohlahlana was on air as a stand-in for Gwala.
Said a source: “Cathy is scheduled to start in April. At this stage, it is unclear where Bongi will be moved to, but he will still be with the station.”
Former Kaya FM host Mapaseka Mokwele is said to be moving to Radio 2000, after being approached in September.
The source said: “She was made an offer by the SABC that she could not refuse, but there was some back-and-forth going on until she agreed.”
However, Mokwele has denied this, saying: “I can confirm that I haven’t signed anything with the SABC.”
The source also raised the possibility of Radio 2000 unveiling veteran broadcaster Sydney Baloyi as a host for the Friday and Saturday slots, after its sports shows.
Meanwhile, Somizi Mhlongo’s future at Metro FM is said be hanging by a thread.
An insider said: “Somizi doesn’t know whether he will still have a job at the station come April.”
But when approached for comment, a surprised Mhlongo said: “Who told you that?”
And, when Metro FM’s co-hosting duo Sphe and Naves were asked about their possible move, Naves said: “That is breaking news, I guess, but please put me on the front page because I have a new single, Okokoko, which is doing really well.”
Sphe said: “That is news to me. I have not had my negotiations [with the station] but at the moment I have a new single with DJ Naves.”
Asked for comment, SABC’s acting spokesperson, Mmoni Seapolelo, said: “The SABC would like to clarify that the organisation has not communicated its radio line-up changes at this stage. We appreciate the public’s interest in all our radio stations and would like to assure our listeners that the organisation will announce the line-up changes in due course.”
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