By Qabaqongo France
There is a lot that happened in radio in 2018. There were good and bad moments. There was fun, laughter, entertainment, controversy and more. Here are my 10 radio highlights and lowlights of 2018.
LOWLIGHTS.
- Sakina Kamwendo’s departure from AM Live.
– Kamwendo was removed from SA FM’s weekday breakfast show. She was replaced by former Talk Radio 702 host Stephen Grootes. She now hosts the weekday 12 to 1 pm show at the station. The show is called Update At Noon.
- The passing of Rowena Baird.
– Baird battled with colon cancer for a long period of time. She passed away on the 5th of October. She is is the former presenter of SA FM’s weekday mid-morning show called The Morning Talk. She also worked at Metro FM and Radio 2000.
- Sebenzile Nkambule’s departure from Power FM 987.
– Nkambule hosted the weekday 3 to 6 am show called Power Up. The show is now hosted by Koena Moabelo.
- Tumi Morake’s departure from Jacaranda FM.
– Morake hosted the weekday breakfast show with Martin Bester. Many believe her decision to leave the station was due to a backlash she received from many of the station’s listeners over her racial inequality and apartheid remark she made on air in September 2017.
- The discontinuation of The Media Show on SA FM.
– The show was hosted by Ashraf Garda on Sunday mornings. Garda now hosts The ViewPoint from 8 to 10 pm from Monday to Thursday.
- The discontinuation of SA FM Literature.
– The show was hosted by Nancy Richards on Sunday afternoons.
- JJ Tabane’s departure from Power FM 987.
– Tabane hosted Power Perspective before the station terminated his services. Its management said that he used his show to deal with personal matters involving his business relations with former Communications Minister Faith Muthambi without their consent. The show is now hosted by Thabiso Kotane from Sundays to Thursdays from 8 pm to 12 midnight.
- Thabo Mdluli being shortchanged by Power FM 987.
– Mdluli previously hosted The Power Drive. He was moved to the weekday breakfast show to ‘co-host’ Power Breakfast with radio veteran and Power FM’s station manager Bob Mabena. I feel like he’s treated like a sidekick whereas he would have done just fine hosting the show alone. I think he makes better talk radio than Mabena. And it’s so unfair that he’s not even mentioned on the show’s promos.
- Simulcast broadcast of Robert Marawa’s sports show.
– In my opinion, Marawa is the best sportscaster in South Africa. However, I don’t think it was the right decision to have him host the same show airing on two radio stations. I think it would have been better if he only did his show on Metro FM then have another host Radio 2000’s sports show. But then again, they say (commercial) radio is business. Marawa replaced Thomas Mlambo on Metro FM and Andile Ncube on Radio 2000. His show is called Marawa Sports Worldwide. It airs on weekdays from 6 to 7 pm on Metro FM and 6 to 8 pm on Radio 2000.
- Thobela FM not crowning Malwedhe as their crossover song.
– The SABC-owned, Limpopo-situated Sepedi radio station crowned Master KG’s 2017 song called Skeleton Move as song of the year. Many of its listeners are angry over this and there are vote rigging accusations. I thought King Monada’s Malwedhe was going to easily be the crossover song. I was so surprised when I learned that it was Skeleton Move instead.
HIGHLIGHTS.
- Xolani Gwala’s return to the airwaves.
– In September 2017, Gwala announced on his former 702 Breakfast show that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer. He had an almost a year break while receiving treatment. He returned to the airwaves at the end of July. He hosted the weekday breakfast show before taking a radio break. The show is now hosted by Bongani Bingwa. Gwala now hosts the weekday 12 to 1 pm show called The Xolani Gwala Show.
- Ntombikayise Phiri on primetime radio.
– In April, Ntombikayise started the weekday midday show on Radio 2000. The show is called The Inner Circle. Before the big move, she hosted the weekday midnight show called The Crossover at the station. She replaced Bertha Charuma.
- Joanne Joseph joining 702.
– Joanne was the host of The Power Update on Power FM 987 before leaving for 702 to host its weekday afternoon drive show. She replaced Stephen Grootes. Grootes now hosts SA FM’s weekday breakfast show called SA FM Sunrise.
- Thomas Msengana’s return to Metro FM.
– Msengana rejoined Metro FM in April. He hosts the weekday 12 to 3 pm show with Pearl Modiadie. Msengana was on Kaya FM before leaving for Metro FM.
- Tumisang Ndlovu joining Power FM.
– Ndlovu hosts the weekday 12 to 1 pm show on Power FM 987. The show is called The Power Update. She replaced Joanne Joseph. Ndlovu previously worked at Radio 2000.
- #RupertOnPower.
– The 2018’s Chairman’s Conversation between MSG Africa Investment Holdings chairman Given Mkhari and businessman Johann Rupert took place on the 4th of December. It set social media alight and got tongues wagging.
- #TheDriveOnMetro.
– Metro FM’s weekday afternoon drive show trended on social media for days. This came after Masechaba Ndlovu confronted Babes Wodumo on physical abuse claims in a live interview. It was alleged that the Wololo hitmaker was abused by musician and record label owner Mampintsha.
- Smash Afrika joining 5 FM.
– The young radio star whose real name is Afrika Mdutyulwa, previously worked for Gauteng’s youth station – Y FM. He now hosts Live At Night on 5 FM. It airs from Monday to Thursday from 7 to 10 pm.
- Robert Marawa’s return to the airwaves.
– After almost a year off-air, the veteran sportscaster was announced as the host of the radio show on SABC radio stations Metro FM and Radio 2000. The show is called Marawa Sports Worldwide.
- Weza Matomane being SA FM’s voice.
– Matomane is arguably the best voiceover artist South Africa has ever had. He has done voiceover work for Metro FM, 5 FM, Jacaranda FM, 947, Power FM 987, 702 and other stations. He was announced as the new voice for SA FM.
By Qabaqongo France (The Radio Genius)
