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The winds of change are sweeping through SABC radio stations ahead of a new line-up, which kicks in on April 1.
Two weeks before the annual radio reshuffle, rumours are swirling that well-known radio personalities are set to lose their jobs.
City Press has reliably learnt that Masechaba Ndlovu, who co-hosts The Drive on Metro FM with Mo Flava, has been booted off the show.
Ndlovu has refused to comment.
Yesterday, Metro FM’s Rams Mabote – host of the show, Talk With Rams – announced his departure from the station on his Facebook page.
“I shall return, in one form or another. But now I have bigger fish to fry. So I have to bid you all goodbye. Thank you for your patronage. Thank you for choosing to listen. Thank you for the kind words you have shared all these years. I know I will meet some of you going forward. But for now, the mic rests,” he wrote in a lengthy post.
Another change at Metro FM will see Somizi Mhlongo leave the Fresh Breakfast show to join Lerato Kganyago and Dineo Ranaka on The Bridge, according to an SABC insider.
Two sources at Ukhozi FM have revealed that the station is also going to be affected by the changes.
“DJ Sgqemeza will no longer be hosting the breakfast show and both Sthandwa Nzuza and Ngizwe Mchunu’s contracts have not been renewed,” said the one source.
City Press has reliably learnt that comedian and actress Tumi Morake could make a return to radio. Morake, who left Jacaranda FM a year ago, is rumoured to be on her way to Motsweding FM.
But while stations strengthen and refresh their talent, these changes are not without controversy.
There has already been a fallout with listeners of Motsweding FM after it emerged that some of its popular personalities were given letters informing them that their contracts would not be renewed.
According to an insider at Motsweding, some of those facing the chop include veteran sports and news anchor Alpheus Koonyaditse, Goitsemodimo Seleka, Peter Manzana and Stella Sebalo, among others.
This even prompted Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to call for the station to be muted. “Just imagine @motswedingfm without Alpheus Koonyaditse and Goitsemodimo Seleka. @SABCNewsOnline don’t stretch it too far! #muteMotswedingFM,” tweeted Lesufi last month.
Now the Oupa Matla Foundation, based in Mahikeng in the North West, has also taken the fight to the station, calling for the personalities to be reinstated.
Oupa Matla, the founder and chair of the foundation, said his organisation had engaged with the station’s management but without success.
“We told them they cannot terminate contracts of these veterans who are fluent in Setswana and bring people in who cannot speak the language. We even gave them examples of other stations that had to get rid of presenters who could not speak their languages,” said Matla yesterday.
“We do not have a problem with who they are recruiting, but they must be people who can speak our language properly. Why are they bringing in actors to become presenters?”
He said a march to the station was being planned for Thursday to enable people to voice their unhappiness.
Thobela FM, which has been in the news for all the wrong reasons since the Song of the Year controversy, is also rumoured to have shown, among others, actress Rami Chuene the door.
The Queen actress presents the jazz show on Sundays, but insiders claim she may be one of the casualties.
And, according to a well-placed source at the station, Petrus Mathebula, popularly known as “Koko Mgwazeni” – whose Moribo wa Afrika show clocks about a million listeners – and veteran presenter Rudolph Letsoalo are also rumoured to be on their way out.
SABC spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu said she could not comment on the new line-up as the process was still unfolding.
“The SABC is in the process of reviewing contracts of freelance on-air talent as well as the various programmes, in line with industry best practices. This is an annual process, which takes place in February and March.
"It is informed by various factors, such as revenue, listenership, performance of a programme or show, return on investment, and the strategic direction of the various SABC platforms. Should there be any programme and/or line-up changes, the SABC will communicate this to its respective stakeholders,” she said.
