Frustrated Lesedi FM presenters and deejays have turned to former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng for intervention after the mandarins at the station failed to renew their contracts.
The renewal of the presenters and deejays contract was due to fall in January, a date that expired without any action from the station’s hierarchy.
They have instead been informed that the contracts would not be renewed, and the on-air personalities were given letters in January, the month their contracts were due to be renewed, informing them this would no longer be the case.
It was the station’s business manager, Mamontha Motaung, who delivered the bad news without offering any details.
The failure to renew the contracts was partly attributed to the SABC’s bosses’ alleged refusal to approve Motaung’s proposed realignment project and the swapping around of presenters. This allegedly included shifting Seipati “Twasa” Seoke and Nyakallo “Ba2Cada” Leine from the breakfast show after the ratings of their show took a nosedive in listenership.
It is alleged Motaung, the wife of the station’s seasoned presenter Thuso Motaung, wanted to move Twasa from the breakfast show to the 9am to noon show and Ba2cada to “a graveyard slot” and replace them with new faces.
The deep throat alleged that Motaung also proposed not to renew the contract of Dr Lehlohonolo Motake, Rorisang Thandekiso and Mannehileng Letuka, who were recruited last year because she felt they did not add any value to the station.
A highly placed source, who did not want to be identified, said the presenters and deejays approached Motsoeneng to convince Motaung not to fire them. “The presenters and deejays who ended up approaching Motsoeneng for guidance and intervention on the matter as they believed he would convince Mamontha to renew their contracts.”
The tipster said Motaung gave letters to the presenters and producers in January, which stated their contracts would be coming to an end and that they should start looking for other opportunities elsewhere as some of the contracts wouldn’t be renewed.
“There is a state of panic among presenters as some were told they were on their way out as their contracts would not be renewed.”
Apart from Motake, Thandekiso and Letuka, Motaung proposed to wield the axe on Tsholo Leokaoke and Nkunyana Nkunyane.
These people were told last week that they would be kicked out and that “they were replaceable”.
“The way things are so hectic, some of the people who are on the verge of losing their jobs ran to Hlaudi Motsoeneng to ask him to intervene in the matter as he is close to the Motaungs.
“Hlaudi had a meeting with some of these presenters last week to discuss the matter and we are yet to hear what the conclusion on the matter was. But no one should blame Thuso and Mamontha for the changes, they must blame Mamontha’s bosses at the top management of the SABC as they are the ones who want changes, and Mamontha is just implementing what she deemed to be fit to please her big bosses,” said another source.
Another source said that SABC is collapsing because those in charge do not know what they are doing.
“At Lesedi FM, the bosses are complaining about the way shows ratings are dropping because of the lack of creativity and the directions those shows are taking. Some presenters are good on certain shows, but now they want to put them in graveyard slots or get rid of them completely. There is a lot of jealousy in this industry and if someone doesn’t like you, they deal with you. It is very important to protect Lesedi FM and seSotho heritage, and nobody should be targeted because of hatred.”
Motsoeneng confirmed he was approached.
“I was approached by the presenters who work for different radio stations and TV stations at the SABC with their concerns that they are scared that they will be dismissed. They called me for advice as they know how I turned things around for the SABC. They spoke to me in confidence.”
SABC spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo said, “The SABC can confirm that it will announce any line-up changes to its radio stations in due course. It must be noted that the selection of presenters is done by station management solely and no other individuals”.
Meanwhile, Somizi Mhlongo will bounce back to Metro FM where he is expected to host the “Ask a Man” slot and lifestyle show on weekends. This after the station’s breakfast show host Mo Flava quit after rejecting an offer to present a weekend slot.
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