Lesedi FM listeners tuning in for the Dikalaneng Weekend show were treated to a graveyard experience — dead silence in the wee hours of Sunday (August 2) — before the station’s programmed backup music kicked in.
The voice of the show’s popular presenter Matshokgo Mahloko went quiet, leaving listeners wondering whether the mic had died, the studio had frozen or the man behind it had disappeared into thin air.
An insider told Sunday World that Mahloko had allegedly fallen asleep in the studio. However, Sunday World could not independently verify the claim.
What is clear, though, is that the “glitch” during Mahloko’s show left Lesedi FM management with the headache of a public relations embarrassment and an advertising nightmare after scheduled paid adverts were allegedly not played.
The adult contemporary radio station broadcasts in Sesotho from Bloemfontein and Johannesburg using different FM frequencies nationwide.
According to the insider, security guards listening from the station’s Bloemfontein studios first noticed something was amiss when Mahloko’s voice went quiet for an extended period.
“Security guards who were listening to the station while on duty at the studios in Bloemfontein were shocked when Matshokgo’s show kept on playing music, which kicked in automatically after he fell asleep.
“The guards alerted the station’s business manager, Mamontha Motaung, and programmes manager, Mannini Nyokong, to inform them of what was happening in Studio 4,” an insider at the station said.
SABC spokesperson Mmoni Ngubane confirmed to Sunday World that there was disruption of the live broadcast during Mahloko’s show and apologised to the listeners for the blackout.
“We apologise to our listeners for the disruption to Lesedi FM’s live programming on Sunday morning. The signal stayed on air and music continued to play but the live show did not run as our audience expects and we regret that.”
Asked whether Mahloko had been drunk, had dozed off d or had been suspended pending an internal probe, as has been alleged, Ngubane said the public broadcaster would not be drawn into public discussions involving employee matters.
“As a rule, we don’t discuss internal employee matters in the public domain, so we won’t comment on the specifics, other than to say that where standards slip, we address it internally through the proper channels,” she said.
Despite Ngubane’s confirmation of the broadcast blackout, Mahloko denied the allegations, telling Sunday World he was not aware of any such incident.
“I saw the bosses [Motaung and Nyokong] at work while I was doing my show but I cannot tell why they were there. All I can tell you is that my show went ahead without any glitches. It is news to me that there were problems during my show to the point that it went off air.
“I will need to call Mannini to understand all these issues you are referring to,” Mahloko said.
According to the Lesedi FM website, Dikalaneng Weekend, which is on air between 2am and 6am, offers “overnight listener interaction, music mixes with guest DJs and a dedicated companion segment”.
- Lesedi FM's Dikalaneng Weekend show experienced a live broadcast disruption on August 2, resulting in an extended period of dead silence before backup music played.
- An insider alleged that presenter Matshokgo Mahloko fell asleep during the show, though this claim could not be independently verified.
- Security guards at the Bloemfontein studio noticed the silence and alerted the station's business and programmes managers about the issue.
- SABC spokesperson Mmoni Ngubane confirmed the broadcast disruption, apologized to listeners, and declined to comment on internal employee matters.
- Mahloko denied any knowledge of the incident, stating his show proceeded without glitches and expressed intent to clarify the situation with management.
