Idols judge Unathi Msengana is in hot water at the SABC.
The recording artist, who also co-hosts the MetroFM breakfast show ‘First Avenue’ alongside DJ Glen Lewis, has been taken off air after she told The Sowetan newspaper that she was banned from interviewing Idols winner Khaya Mthethwa.
“This morning (last week Wednesday) an instruction was personally given to me by my station manager not to interview Khaya. No explanation was given. I had to obey and ask no questions because he is my boss,” Unathi was quoted as saying.
MetroFM station manager Martin Vilikazi was far from pleased, and according to a source quoted in the City Press, this run-in has been brewing for some time.
“Martin and Unathi don’t see eye to eye because he has come to MetroFM and basically changed all the rules about what each show can and cannot do. Since Unathi is very vocal about what she wants, there is loads of tension between them.”
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago denied reports that Unathi was suspended.
“Msengana has not been suspended. She was just not scheduled to be on the show. Since she is contracted to the SABC as a freelancer, she breached the terms of her contract that stipulate that no employee can discuss SABC matters with the media,” he told the City Press.
Kganyago further explained that Unathi had requested permission to interview Khaya, but was turned down.
“This had nothing to do with Khaya,” said Kganyago.
“We just didn’t want Unathi and Gareth to be the ones interviewing contestants because we don’t have a cross-promotion agreement with M-Net.” - IOL