Gqeberha – Wednesday, 7 February 2024 – It is with heavy hearts that Umhlobo Wenene FM announces the passing of two of the station’s esteemed colleagues, radio veteran Nomathamsanqa Rweqana and the award-winning writer for the triumphant Umhlobo Wenene FM drama series “Ithini Na Lento”, Sonwabo Yawa, who both passed away on 6 February 2024.

Nomathamsanqa Rweqana, affectionately known as “Reverend Rweqana,” graced the airwaves of Umhlobo Wenene FM from 2008 until her retirement on 31 March 2022, where she passionately served as a presenter for religious programmes. Her dedication to ministry extended beyond the microphone, as she took on additional administrative responsibilities, including the recording of devotions, prologues, sermons, and Imvuselelo. Nomathamsanqa’s shows included the now “Ngenan Emasangweni Ngendumiso”, a religious show that airs on Thursdays between 09:00am and 12:00pm and the iconic “Ndingu Yehova iGqirha Lakho,”, where her midnight knocks and her trademark phrase “Nkqo, nkqo, nkqo,  ndikwakho” were endeared by her  listeners from 03:00 – 05:30. She had been a beacon of comfort and healing for many, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Liberty Radio Awards in 2017.

It is with great sadness that Umhlobo Wenene also mourns the passing of Sonwabo Yawa, the brilliant mind behind the award-winning drama series “Ithini Na Lento” and a 2008 drama series that focused on reducing the fatalities of initiates caused during circumcision entitled “Konakele phi?”. He started with the station when it was still radio Transkei in 1995, where he published “Ingalo Yomthetho Inde”, a book that was adapted into a radio drama for Umhlobo Wenene FM by the former drama producer Mr. Zolisile Mapipa, and saw him winning the accolade of Young Radio Drama Award. He later migrated to Umhlobo Wenene FM in 2007 as a freelance writer, where in 2010, he led a young group of writers that started the drama series “Ubomi yinzulu yolwandle”under the guidance of Mr. Thozamile ‘Sir Thoz’ Nyakatya and Ntombethemba ‘Tofee’ Zitshu.  In 2024, the name was changed to what is now the popular drama series “Ithini na Lento?” in order to accommodate an evolving youth and storyline.

Outside of being a drama writer on Umhlobo Wenene FM, he was a published novelist for school-adapted books and magazines, one of his poems “A man died long time ago” was read on Morning Live by the late Vuyo Mbuli for the show’s Women’s Day celebrations in 2008. He also translated a play that was commissioned on Ukhozi FM for Umhlobo Wenene FM. Sonwabo’s creativity and dedication to storytelling, captivated audiences nationwide and extended beyond the airwaves, earning the series numerous accolades, including the prestigious MTN Radio Award for Best Drama Series in South Africa in 2014.

Business Manager for the Eastern Combo radio stations, Loyiso Bala stated that “The loss of Reverend Nomathamsanqa Rweqana and Sonwabo Yawa leaves a void in the Umhlobo Wenene FM family and the South African broadcasting community. Their legacies will forever be remembered, and their contributions cherished. Our deepest condolences go out to their families, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time”.

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing)

Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590

Johannesburg – Thursday, 1 February 2024 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) would like to address the false reports implying that Ukhozi FM Business Manager, Ms. Sbongi Ngcobo is under investigation and suspended.

Ms Ncgobo is not being investigated nor has she been suspended by the SABC as alleged in the public space. The SABC is aware of the variety of unsubstantiated allegations levelled against Ms Ngcobo and the irresponsible public statements, which are spearheaded by disgruntled individuals.

Whilst the SABC understands that the Corporation’s services and operations are in the public interest and the institution accounts to South African citizens, it has become increasingly imperative to appeal to anyone to ensure that information reported on, is without any intentional or negligent departure from the facts whether by distortion, exaggeration, or misrepresentation.

Ms Ngcobo remains the Business Manager of the SABC’s biggest radio station, which she has successfully led and achieved great milestones, with the recent accolade from the 2023 Radio Awards, where the station was declared the PBS Radio Station of the year.

All information pertaining to the status of  SABC employees, will only be communicated by the Corporation’s designated Communications Office and not individuals positioning themselves as voices of authority, with no allocated mandate from the SABC.

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                   Ms. Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590

RFQ ISSUE `DATE 24 JANUARY 2024

CLOSING DATE & TIME 7 FEBRUARY 2024 @ 12 PM

Submissions must be electronically emailed to RFQSubmissions@sabc.co.za on or before the closing date of this RFQ.
For queries, please contact Hlabane Mamogobo via email: Tenderqueries@sabc.co.za

Johannesburg – Thursday, 18 January 2024 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s biggest commercial radio station, METRO FM is proud to launch the much-anticipated 2024 installment of its flagship and music awards ceremony, the METRO FM Music Awards (MMA’s).

METRO FM and the Mpumalanga Provincial Government will host the prestigious METRO FM Music Awards 2024 in Mbombela, Mpumalanga on Saturday, 27 April 2024. This year’s edition of the awards, which are proudly headline sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation, promise to provide attendees with a lifestyle experience that is set to have the industry and revelers enthralled.

The launch of the Awards in Mbombela presents a perfect platform to provide METRO FM listeners, prospective clients and advertisers and other key strategic partners a glimpse into what to expect and insights into key locations within the province.

The partnership with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government is aligned with the brand’s objective to reinforce its dominance within its reach and the Province’s strategic intention to stimulate economic growth in the province through tourism.

The launch of the awards gives way to the call for submissions from artists and record labels for consideration as MMA finalists, and opens tonight at 23h59 on metrofmmusicawards.co.za.

The submission process will be followed by the finalists announcement event, the voting phase and a series of activations that will culminate into the main awards ceremony.

Ms Nada Wotshela, SABC Group Executive: Radio stated, “It is quite fitting that this year’s awards ceremony is hosted on freedom day as music has always played an integral part in influencing and shaping urban culture in South Africa. The 2024 instalment of the METRO FM Music Awards is a demonstration of METRO FM’s commitment to uplifting the South African music industry. The station continues to provide a platform to a variety of prolific artists and record labels, to contribute to one of South Africa’s richest exports, Music.”

Mr Godfrey Ntombela, HOD Culture, Sport and Recreation said, “The Mpumalanga Provincial Government takes pride in the recorded milestone of its partnership with the SABC. Through the Metro FM Music Awards, which we introduced last year, we have invested massively in the creative industry and has boosted the growth of the tourism sector. The awards were a huge success, and this confirms Mpumalanga as a Province with a capacity to host big events. This year the awards will be bigger and better and we look forward to welcome all our visitors to the event.”

METRO FM is aptly positioned to continue to be a platform that promotes and celebrates the wide spectrum of music genres in South Africa.

More information and updates on the MMAs can be accessed on metrofmmusicawards.co.za.

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                   Ms. Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

seapolelomv@sabc.co.zaT 011 714 3057 C. 073 688 1590

Johannesburg-Saturday,13 January 2024-The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and its partner HOLLYWWODBETS promises an exhilarating football spectacle ahead of the Total Energies AFCON 2023 set to start today.

The SABC and HOLLYWOODBETS together with another corporate partner, inked a partnership to collectively enable the millions of South Africans to have access to the most anticipated football tournament.

HOLLYWOODBETS’s Head of Operations, Morgan Shandu said “We are honoured to collaborate with the SABC once again, following the successful broadcast partnership of the global Rugby spectacle, which we made accessible to all South Africans.

Mr. Shandu further stated that “As a proudly South African business and leading sports betting operator, it is important that we play an active role in the community where spreading hope has always been a core principle of ours. We are pleased to be part of the process as we strongly believe that sports unite and brings people together and through such partnerships this has been made possible. We wish the South African national team all the best.” 

A total of 52 matches will be broadcast live by the SABC, including the opening ceremony and opening match, all matches that the Bafana Bafana participate in, quarter-final matches, semi-final matches, and the final and closing ceremony.

The audiences will be spoilt for choice with the best on-air talent for the studio build-up and wrap comprising of the expert analysis from the leading on-air talent of SABC Sport including Andile Ncube, Doctor Khumalo, Steve Komphela, Aaron Mokoena, Rhulani Mokwena, Bernard Parker, Thabiso Mosia, Vusiwe Ngcobo, Reitumetse Nkgapele, Simphiwe Dludlu, Esrom Nyandoro, Thabo Senong,Manqoba Mnqithi,Janine Van Wyk, Andile Dlamini, Hlompho Kekana, Owen Da Gama, Greg Etafia, Gloria Brown and William Katsande.

All the 52 matches of AFCON 2023 will be live on SABC 1, SABC 3, SABC Sport Channel on OVDH & DTT, SABC Plus, SABC Radio Stations in the language of their choice and livestreams on sabcsport.com.

The matches will also be available on a catch-up service on SABC Plus, including full matches and match highlights.

Audiences can also follow every single moment of AFCON 2023 on SABC Sport social media pages

   X , Instagram, and Facebook.

The full schedule of the matches is attached.

Ends

Issued By: SABC Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing)

Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590

Editorial and general enquiries for Hollywoodbets please contact:

Kuhle Mkize, PR & Comms Manager for Hollywoodbets email: KuhleM@hollywoodbets.net Tel: 078 1189 609

Johannesburg – Friday, 5 January 2024 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 broadcasting rights and the rest of CAF events for the 2024 season. Total Energies AFCON 2023 is a highly anticipated sports spectacle that will take place in Ivory Coast from 13 January 2024 until 11 February 2024 and will be only available on the SABC channels across all broadcasting platforms in South Africa. With the local PSL season taking a break for the next six (6) weeks, SABC Sport will be offering its audiences and commercial partners the live experience of all 52 matches of AFCON 2023, in which the South African national team, our own Bafana Bafana will also be participating.

In addition, SABC Sport has also acquired the live matches to the rest of the CAF events, which includes all 150 matches of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, all the 32 matches of CAF CHAN 2024, all matches of CAF Champions League 2023/24, all matches of CAF Confederations Cup 2023/24, all the matches of CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations 2024, all matches of CAF Women’s Champions League 2024 and all the matches of CAF Super Cup 2024. These acquisitions put football lovers and commercial partners in the prime position to experience the world’s biggest football events exclusively on SABC channels, making this great content available to all South Africans for free and with no uncompetitive platform blockages.

For the Total Energies AFCON 2023, SABC Sport has put together a strong content schedule that will ensure that everyone has a front-row SABC action from the Ivory Coast Total Energies AFCON 2023. Over and above all the 52 matches being live only on the SABC TV channels, radio stations, and digital platforms, viewers will be treated to a daily Total Energies AFCON 2023 Preview and Total Energies AFCON 2023 Review shows that will showcase all the upcoming matches of the day, review all the latest updates, goals, and news from each day’s full matches. Each match will be delivered with a studio build-up and wrap comprising of the expert analysis from the leading on-air talent of SABC Sport.

In its promise of making all world-class events available to all South Africans with no barrier or cost to entry, the SABC will broadcast all the AFCON 2023 matches live on SABC 1, SABC 3, SABC Sport Channel and SABC radio stations, Radio 2000, RSG, Umhlobo Wenene FM, Ukhozi FM, Lesedi FM, Motsweding FM, Thobela FM, Phalaphala FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Ikwekwezi FM, Ligwalagwala FM and TRUFM in the language of choice to audiences. In addition, SABC Plus and sabcsport.com will offer free live streaming of all the 52 games, while also offering a free catch-up service for those that may have missed the live action. SABC Sport social pages on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) will offer audiences live commentary of every single unmissable moment from every single one of the 52 live matches of AFCON 2023.

The SABC’s Chief Operations Officer, Ian Plaatjes stated: “The SABC team is happy to have made all these great sports activities available to the South African public and would like to express its gratitude to the rights holders, New World Media, and all the relevant stakeholders who worked tirelessly to ensure the fruition of this process.”

The leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, the CAF President, has ushered a turn-around in the organization making the Africa Cup of Nations one of the most sought-after properties globally. SABC Sport joins several international broadcasters who will show the games. The SABC would also like to wish Bafana Bafana all the best for the competition in Ivory Coast

Follow SABC Sport and on X, Instagram, and Facebook for updates.

Ends

Issued By: Group Communications
Media Enquiries: Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing)
Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590

Johannesburg-Friday, 29 December 2023 – Whilst the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) would prefer not to engage further on the various allegations levelled against Ukhozi FM Business Manager, it has become increasingly important to respond in view of setting the record straight following further allegations.

On Thursday, 28 December 2023, the SABC issued a media statement noting the aforesaid allegations. In the aforesaid media statement, the SABC categorically stated that, although some of the allegations are personal in nature, the Corporation will, where it deems it necessary, look into some of them. To this end, the SABC appeals to anyone who has any evidence of such allegations to come forward with same.

The SABC has also noted new allegations, through audio-visual message circulating on social media featuring an individual who had an extinct partnership with the SABC regarding the new year crossover song. The aforesaid terminated was a three-year Event Sponsorship Agreement in relation to the hosting of the SABC Summer Song of the Year Event, which lapsed at the end of March 2019. Therefore, the SABC can confirm that it does not have any contractual relationship with this individual.

However, the SABC has noted a pattern in the past couple of years, of continuous various unsubstantiated allegations against SABC Radio Management by the same individual, raised around the same period of year, and always just prior to SABC Radio stations implementing their new year cross-over-songs or what is termed as song of the year. This appears to be a deliberate smearing campaign strategy against SABC Radio and its employees for reasons better known to this individual.

It should be noted that all the participating radio stations have campaigns that are dubbed in different names and none of them is labelled SABC Summer Song of the Year as was previously known during the three-year period in which the contract was active. This is so because there is a continuous dispute between the SABC and this individual on the ownership of the SABC Summer Song of the Year, which matter is still pending before the Courts. However, the SABC reiterates that no external party came to the SABC and introduced the concept of SABC radio stations playing the top song/s as the country crosses over into a new year. It must be further noted that the SABC Song of the Year initiative has always been implemented by the SABC for many years whereby SABC Radio stations closed the year with music hits countdown.

The SABC would like to reiterate its commitment in assuring the public and relevant stakeholders that the song of the year campaigns on all the participating radio stations are subject to stringent criteria setting processes and sound measures have been put in place for the counting of the votes and announcement of the winners.

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                   Ms. Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590

Johannesburg – Thursday, 28 December 2023 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has noted a social media post purporting to be a media enquiry with a set of statements or questions relating to Ukhozi FM Business Manager.

There are various allegations which have been made and some are personal in nature, and others would require the Corporation to look into, should there be any evidence available to prove the allegations.
It must also be noted that the allegations come at a time when most of the SABC’s radio stations are implementing their song of the year campaigns, and the Corporation has recently noted with concern, the continued pattern of trying to disrupt and devalue some of the campaigns. SABC Radio management is proud of Ukhozi FM’s ability to push through the obstacles and always deliver a successful campaign that not only builds audiences, but secures revenue for the corporation.

The SABC would like to assure the public and relevant stakeholders that the song of the year campaigns on all the participating radio stations are subject to stringent criteria setting processes and sound measures have been put in place for the counting of the votes and announcement of the winners. Ukhozi FM is no exception and has complied with all SABC governance processes.

Ends

Issued By: Group Communications
Media Enquiries: Ms. Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)
Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590

Johannesburg – Sunday, 17 December 2023 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has noted with concern the contents of an anonymous email on social media regarding the payment of ‘ghost workers’ at the SABC News division.

In this regard, the Corporation would like to set the record straight on this matter and confirm that the SABC Group Executive for News and Current Affairs, Mr. Moshoeshoe Monare has launched an extensive investigation into freelance contracts that turned out to be irregular, corrupt and fraudulent.

One of the managers under investigation tendered a resignation with immediate effect, while other staff members are facing disciplinary processes. The matter is addressed within the SABC’s human resources policies and will also be referred to the other relevant authorities for further investigation.

The SABC would also like to appeal to the public to refrain from distributing the fake email that contains unverified information.

Ends

Issued By: Group Communications

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Seapolelo (Acting Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Marketing)

Seapolelomv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590