Kaya FM station manager Sibongile Mtyali was fired on Friday and has been ordered to leave the station with immediate effect.
The former Metro FM manager’s dismissal is likely to get messy as she has informed her bosses at Kaya FM she intends to apply for an urgent court interdict to reverse her expulsion as she believes it is an unlawful termination of her contract because she has not breached any company policy.
News of Mtyali’s dismissal emerged after her lawyers sent a letter in which they threatened to go the legal route to reverse her dismissal. This was contained in an email believed to have been made accessible to all staff members.
Sunday World learnt Mtyali is likely to be replaced by veteran presenter Thabo “T-Bose” Mokwele.
According to a staff member who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, the problem started when two popular presenters allegedly fought over work-related issues.
When Mtyali tried to intervene, she was told to back off by one of the presenters, who told her they do not take orders from her but from the board. It is alleged the presenter later mobilised staff members to revolt against Mtyali.
Said our source: “I’m one of those staffers who jumped on the bandwagon and complained about her, but I regret my actions because this was based on nothing but lies. I did not think it would get this far. I don’t know how I will be able to live with myself for destroying a young talented black woman for no apparent reason.”
Another source, who did not want to be named, said Mtyali’s other sin was to try to resolve a complaint brought to her by music compilers, who complained about a presenter choosing their own music to play on air while the rest of the presenters played the play-listed music.
“They are so scared to confront the presenter because of their close proximity to certain board members.”
Another staffer sided with the presenter and said they have always been choosing their own music long before Mtyali’s arrival.
“The presenter was doing this even when Greg Maloka was the station manager because they know good music. The compilers were just using Sibongile for their own evil ends and she entertained them and unfortunately it has backfired on her. But Sibongile reached out to the presenter and allowed them to choose music because the
company regards them as an asset. Unfortunately, it was too late because the plan to remove her was already in motion,” said the source.
The source also confirmed the fight between the presenters. The source said one presenter was unhappy with other because of their late coming.
“At some stage the other presenter said their cousin was sick that is why they arrived at work late. The presenter felt they could not work with people who are unprofessional.”
The vastly experienced Mtyali, who is also the former Motsweding FM station manager, declined to comment. “I cannot comment because the matter is sub judice,” she said.
Kaya FM chairperson of the board Sizwe Mncwango said he was unable to comment as he was dealing with other “pressing matters”.
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