The beginning of April is the period when radio stations across the country make changes to their line-up., Thobela FM is among the stations which have made some controversial changes.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) station in Limpopo was accused of “selling” jobs at the beginning of 2019. There was a damning recording of presenter Tlou Moabelo, who was asked to pay R20 000 to the executive producer, Sello Sam Mochichila, after her contract was not renewed.
Political Analysis South Africa (PASA) has seen a very emotional letter penned by a former producer and presenter of a current show called Hloka La Tsela, Maseogane Nelly Lerato. She is one of more than seven Thobela FM presenters who were excluded in the new line-up.
“The other day I was asked by Mr Mochichila if I did not think of one day thanking the people who assisted me to get where I was in life. This came after my colleague, Ms Matshidiso Kekana, told me that she gave Mr Mochichila about R2000 as a token of appreciation for giving her more shifts …” charged Lerato
The other concern expressed in the emotional letter by Lerato is that the Human Resource department is paralysed because the executive producer, Mr Mochichila, has to “motivate” why your contracts should be terminated or extended. It is clear that Mr Mochichila holds a significant amount of power in the radio station, as he gets to decide who gets hired or fired.
Former presenters and listeners have sympathised with the affected presenters, crying foul because there are no reasons furnished for their removal despite their experience and popularity among their fans.
Lerato is pleading with the SABC management to intervene, the head office has not taken any action even after the first job scandal hit the station earlier this year. Listeners are not happy with the decision taken by Thobela FM.
Motsweding FM is also facing a similar situation where the station manager, Katlego Mokhele, takes decisions which seem to be against the wishes of listeners, as the listeners have publicly demonstrated against the station and have asked parliament to intervene.
Kenneth Mokgatlhe
k.mokgatlhe@politicalanalysis.co.za
