The alleged dismissals of ace radio broadcaster Thuso Motaung and his Lesedi FM station manager wife Mamontha Motaung continue to be shrouded in mystery as the SABC refuses to clearly communicate its position about the pair’s future.
Earlier in the week, City Press reported that Lesedi FM’s veteran presenter Motaung had been axed, while his wife was ordered to move to SABC’s Mahikeng
offices to manage the business of Motsweding FM.
She is the general manager of Motsweding and Lesedi FM.
Our sources at SABC said the national broadcaster is now hesitant and running scared about its decision to fire Thuso.
The SABC according to sources fears possible repercussions after threats by listeners to boycott the radio station, which is one of SABC’s biggest brands.
Lesedi FM attracts 4 million listeners daily, and any significant reduction in numbers will affect advertising revenue.
The SABC in a statement on Thursday, blamed other media organisations for “irresponsible reporting”.
“The SABC is disappointed at this irresponsible and sensational reporting by various media publications and would like to set the record straight,” the statement by SABC spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo read.
“Thuso Motaung has been temporarily unscheduled for operational reasons and will be back on his programme after two weeks.
“Mamontha Motaung is also not dismissed, nor is she suspended as it has been falsely reported.”
However, insiders at the SABC’s Free State offices in Bloemfontein painted a grim picture that led to the broadcaster taking a 360 degrees U-turn on the Motaungs.
“A decision was taken that Thuso and Mamontha should be fired after they had attacked Lesedi FM’s sports presenter Thabo Kofa in the virtual meeting last year.
“They had accused Kofa, who is now a freelancer at the station, of leaking the station’s internal affairs on social media,” an insider said.
After the story about the alleged axing of the Motaungs, another storm erupted as the advertisers handling media buying for the private sector and government departments, and who are fond of Thuso, are alleged to have called the SABC bosses, saying that if the presenter known as Masututsa was shown the door, they will also pull the plug and stop advertising on Makgulong A Matala and Jwale Ke Nako shows.
“Thuso is a crowd-puller, with his shows commanding listeners in all regions of the country and with a following in neighbouring countries.
“The advertisers threatened to pull out if Thuso was not brought back, hence the alleged U-turn by the SABC.
“Thuso is bigger than the station and he can throw his weight around.
His brash approach is somehow a magnet for cash for the station and SABC at large,” another mole at the SABC added.
“If he goes, Lesedi FM will find itself in a mess because advertising revenue will be reduced drastically.”
Another presenter at the station said that after the news spread like wildfire that Thuso was fired, many listeners complained on social media, while others bombarded the SABC with calls threatening to boycott the radio station.
A presenter at Lesedi FM also told Sunday World that Thuso had been telling them that he was untouchable as he had protection from politicians and the SABC bosses.
Mamontha answered our call with enthusiasm but asked that we get the story about her position from SABC management.
Thuso hung up the phone when called by Sunday World.
