Entertainment / Radio
Popular DJs off air over anti-Malema song
18 Nov 2011 at 05:57hrs | Views
Suspended Ukhozi FM DJs Khathide Ngobe & Ngizwenkosi Mchunu. (SABC)
Durban - Two popular Ukhozi FM presenters were suspended for a month on Thursday after playing Izingane Zoma's anti-Malema song on Saturday.
The controversial song, which has made the ANC Youth League leadership hot under the collar, was played on the popular traditional music show Utalagu.
The Witness reported recently that after the launch of the song the league's general secretary, Sindiso Magaqa, accused the Zulu traditional group of promoting tribalism and threatened to sue them for defamation.
"If they release that stupid song we will hit them hard," said Magaqa at the time.
The lyrics speak of Julius Malema's disregard for the county's leadership and the Constitution.
It says the ANC leadership should control the youth league president before he brings the party into disrepute.
Song not on playlist
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the station decided to take award-winning presenters Khathide "Tshatha" Ngobe and Ngizwe Mchunu off air after they had played the song, which was not on the playlist.
"This is not about the song, but about the two disregarding the rules. The song was not scheduled on the show's playlist.
"This decision was made after a meeting in which the two were given a chance to explain themselves, where they did admit to their wrongdoing.
"The station and the SABC take the breaching of these rules seriously," said Kganyago.
He said the presenters focused on the song because of the controversy it has attracted, disregarding the fact that it was not on the playlist.
"You don't just go to the archives and retrieve a song without approval. This rule applies to all presenters in all stations," he said.
The group's producer, Busani Khuzwayo, said he could not comment on the matter as he had not heard about it.
"The last time I checked songs were played on popular demand, meaning that it is played because people love it," said Khuzwayo.
Attempts to get comment from the two presenters were unsuccessful.
Sapa reports that the CD is still not available in music outlets. Shobeni Khuzwayo, the producer of the song, told the Mercury the CD would be available in stores on Thursday afternoon.
Khuzwayo said: "If music stores don't have the CD it's because our orders have increased and that has delayed the process of it getting in stores."
The controversial song, which has made the ANC Youth League leadership hot under the collar, was played on the popular traditional music show Utalagu.
The Witness reported recently that after the launch of the song the league's general secretary, Sindiso Magaqa, accused the Zulu traditional group of promoting tribalism and threatened to sue them for defamation.
"If they release that stupid song we will hit them hard," said Magaqa at the time.
The lyrics speak of Julius Malema's disregard for the county's leadership and the Constitution.
It says the ANC leadership should control the youth league president before he brings the party into disrepute.
Song not on playlist
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the station decided to take award-winning presenters Khathide "Tshatha" Ngobe and Ngizwe Mchunu off air after they had played the song, which was not on the playlist.
"This is not about the song, but about the two disregarding the rules. The song was not scheduled on the show's playlist.
"The station and the SABC take the breaching of these rules seriously," said Kganyago.
He said the presenters focused on the song because of the controversy it has attracted, disregarding the fact that it was not on the playlist.
"You don't just go to the archives and retrieve a song without approval. This rule applies to all presenters in all stations," he said.
The group's producer, Busani Khuzwayo, said he could not comment on the matter as he had not heard about it.
"The last time I checked songs were played on popular demand, meaning that it is played because people love it," said Khuzwayo.
Attempts to get comment from the two presenters were unsuccessful.
Sapa reports that the CD is still not available in music outlets. Shobeni Khuzwayo, the producer of the song, told the Mercury the CD would be available in stores on Thursday afternoon.
Khuzwayo said: "If music stores don't have the CD it's because our orders have increased and that has delayed the process of it getting in stores."
Source - Sapa
