Johannesburg – Wednesday, 9 November 2022 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), has learnt with sadness, of the passing of multi-talented and versatile broadcaster Ms Pearl Shongwe. Over the years, Ms Shongwe has been an invaluable member of the SABC family, having presented the children’s sport show ‘Sports Buzz’ as well co-anchoring the news and current affairs programme ‘Weekend Live’. In addition, she  also served as a sports host of “Sports Live” on  the SABC’s 24-hour news channel.

She also anchored the hugely popular show ‘One Day Leader’ on SABC 1. At the time of her untimely death, Ms Shongwe was a newsreader and presenter on the popular radio and television shows ‘The Touchdown’ show on Metro FM and SABC 1’s youth programme ‘Daily Thetha’, respectively.

Ms. Kina Nhlengethwa, Metro FM Business Manager said “Words cannot explain how great a loss it is for Metro FM, of this beautiful, vibrant and intelligent woman. It was a privilege to work with Pearl, for those that had the opportunity to meet her. She was a rising star, and still had a lot to offer in the industry. We wish to send our condolences to the family, her colleagues, our listeners and everyone who was close to her. She may be gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.”

Mr Moshoeshoe Monare the Group Executive for News and Current Affairs stated “She was a presenter of great talent and was a real team player”.

Ms Shongwe, who was also a well-known voice over artist made her mark in the media industry and will be deeply missed by the audiences she served and the colleagues with whom she worked, across the different  SABC platforms. Her impact will be remembered for a long time to come.

The SABC sends its heartfelt condolences to the Shongwe family, her friends and colleagues.

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                   Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za|T. 011 714 3311|C. 071 877 0513

Johannesburg-Friday, 4 November 2022– The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to announce that SABC Sport was recognised and scooped a silver award for the best sport promo for the #Weloveithere Football campaign at the Promax Africa awards last night.

#Weloveithere Football campaign promo was developed with the strategic objective to ensure that it effectively retain the SABC Sportbrand’s existing audiences and attract new ones.

The key message delivered by this award-winning promo was that SABC Sport is the ultimate football home of the nation. Through the #Weloveithere Football campaign, SABC Sport has consistently delivered a wide range of local and international football spectacles and firmly established itself as the preferred home for football lovers due to its attractive basket of football content.

 The SABC Group Executive for Video Entertainment, Merlin Naicker stated that “#Weloveithere campaign is the SABC Sport’s universal football landing proposition. As such, we have been intentional from the onset that we speak to all football lovers in a language they speak, across all platforms with a key focus of being an inclusive and credible football destination for our audiences as well as partners. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the SABC team and the creative agency who worked tirelessly around the clock to deliver only the best, concluded Naicker”.

This recognition resonates with the SABC Sport brand personality of being dependable, accessible and exciting.

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                  Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za|T. 011 714 3311|C. 071 877 0513

Gqeberha, Saturday, 28 October 2022 – The Eastern Cape’s biggest talent search competition, truTalent, has announced its winners for the 2022 Radio and DJ competitions.  Ntombozuko Bhalintuli triumphed in the Radio presenter category and Masonwabe Memane won the DJ category.

Both winners walk away with a one-year contract with the station, and will appear on shows to be announced in April 2023 when the station announces its new line-up. Each winner will receive a R10,000 cash prize and the voter who SMS’d the most  walks away with a R5,000 cash prize.  The competition, which has been running for 5 years, is an initiative by trufm, the biggest youth radio station in the Province. Trufm collaborated with Vodacom NXT LVL and local municipalities through various phases of the competition. A total of 88 897votes had been cast at the time of the announcement.

Ntombozuko Bhalintulo from East London finally succeeded after her second attempt. In 2019 she made it into the top two; the winner that year was Asive Sotashe who has been absorbed by the station. She made another attempt this year, auditioning in both East London and Queenstown to increase her chances of making it, which proved to be successful. She won the last leg of the competition with 5,400 votes,  and a total of 20 058 votes towards her overall success.

Masonwabe Memane, a club DJ in his own right, is a first-time entrant who wanted to increase his existing fanbase, skill and marketability. Memane has attended DJ workshops with trufm’s DJ Anda , which have assisted his development as a DJ.

This year’s truTalent competition received a total of 786 submissions following a two-year break between 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The station held audition in Peddie, Alice, Mdantsane, Ginsberg, Maclear, Queenstown, Mthatha, Bizana and Gqeberha. Eighteen finalists from each category were then selected to attend a radio workshop facilitated by industry experts in the field. The finalists got an opportunity to co-host with existing presenters to remain in the running for the top prize.

Business Manager, Loyiso Bala, said, “truTalent, opens up employment opportunities for the youth and further developing talented Eastern Capers.  Collaborations such as those with the local municipalities enabled even those who would not be able to travel for workshops to be included in the upskilling. Even the contestants that did not make it to the top, gained knowledge that they could use to try again next year.” Bala went on to congratulate the winners. “Not only did you guys put up a fight to showcase your talent, but you showed all of us that there is a marketer in each one of you”.

The station shared videos of the finalists sharing their experience of truTalent on their social media platforms @trufm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Ends.

Issued on behalf of SABC Corporate

Media queries: Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za / 071877 0513

Gqeberha, Saturday, 29 October 2022- The multi-award winning Umhlobo Wenene FM announced the launch of its radio drama competition yesterday. The competition which is open to aspiring drama producers, script writers and actors, aims to give a new generation of storytellers a chance to tell their stories and take their creative ability to the next level.

The contest builds upon the success of the stations highly rated drama series, “Ithini na lento” which sets the benchmark for the lucky winners as they work on the new drama series.  The submission details are as follows:

• Theme – Gender Based Violence
• Actors – Submit a one-minute-long monologue in isiXhosa to @umhlobowenenefm ‘s Facebook page under the hashtag #UWFMDrama
• Producers – create and submit a ten-minute radio drama
• Writers – submit a one-page summary of their story with two- scenes.
• Submission details – Send to demo@umhlobowenenefm.co.za no later than Friday, 11 November 2022 at 17:00
• Disqualification – no adaptions of existing material, stage dramas, or stories previously published will be accepted.
• Notification – Ten finalists will be announced on 21 November 2022

Only one entry per writer will be accepted. As part of the development and career-building initiatives of the station,  the ten (10) finalists will be required to attend a workshop with industry experts such as Lusanda Mbane (Generations, Muvhango and Scandal) and Xolani Mali (Academy Award-winning movie Hotel Rwanda) who will provide guidance, support, feedback and share tips with the entrants to ensure the opportunity adds value to each finalist’s creative process.  

Eastern Cape Business Manager, Loyiso Bala, says “Dramas are a creative outlet that not only entertains our listeners, but informs them while building their language skills. Our goal is to be able to play the role of an incubator for the creative and entertainment industry by bringing creatives together and providing them with tools and support to thrive”, said Bala.

Listeners will be able to vote for the finalists from 28 November 2022, and a winner will be announced on 12 December 2022. The winner from each category will receive a R15,000 cash prize as well as a contract with the station for a year. The listener who casts the most votes for the competition will also walk away with a R15,000 cash prize.

Ends.

Issued on behalf of SABC Corporate

Media queries: Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za / 071877 0513

Polokwane – Thursday, 27 October 2022 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) only Xitsonga radio station, Munghana Lonene FM will host the 17th Xitsonga Music awards ceremony on Saturday, 5 November 2022 at Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen. The awards will be preceded by a Gala dinner aimed at increasing the station’s brand awareness and visibility.

The 2022 edition of Xitsonga Music Awards is themed “Vunanga ivutomi” (Music is Life). The following are key dates leading up to the XMA17 ceremony:

28 October – Closing date, the votings for all the categories closes. (The attached list of nominees can be used to vote in the respective categories by sending an SMS to 45859.)

29 October – Most Popular Song Top 5 Annoucement, the remaining Top 5 nominees will be announced and called Live on air on Timutsu to Xitsonga.

03 November – XMA17 Host Annoucement, the hosts will be announced on Phaphama and on Social Media.

04 November – XMA17 Gala Dinner

05 November – XMA17 Awards Ceremony

For more detail on the event and other XMA17 project elements, please visit the website  at www.munghanalonenefm.co.za and on its social media platforms (Facebook, and Twitter @Munghana).

ENDS

Media Enquiries:  Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)  NtuliGM@sabc.co.za     T. 011 714 3311 | C. 071 877 0513

Johannesburg – Thursday, 27 October 2022 – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will not broadcast the upcoming Soweto Marathon (the Race) on 6 November 2022 as planned. The Corporation was once again deprived of securing the broadcast rights due to the continuous anti-competitive behaviour of broadcasting competitor (SuperSport) and sports rights holder, Athletics South Africa (ASA). The parties negotiated for exclusive rights, which inhibits universal access to the Race as SuperSport’s broadcasting footprint and reach is limited.

This conduct has barred the SABC from competing effectively in the market of broadcasting premium sports events. Moreover, this behaviour has, in most instances, allowed competitors or private broadcasters to acquire sports rights, leaving the SABC with no choice but to sub-licensing the sports rights at exorbitant sub-licensing fees.   

In July 2022, the SABC lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission to address the alleged anti-competitive conduct of competitors concerning sports events broadcasting and, in particular, the acquisition of exclusive Broadcast Rights to premium sports events in South Africa. The Corporation is optimistic that this process will be concluded and enable a fair and level ground for all. 

The SABC remains committed to broadcasting sports of national interest. 

Ends

Issued By:                              Group Communications

Media Enquiries:                  Ms. Gugu Ntuli (Group Executive: Corporate Affairs and Marketing)

NtuliGM@sabc.co.za|T. 011 714 3311|C. 071 877 0513