New voices, new affairs for SAfm

Comments SAfm station manager, Mapule Mbhalati. "A number of our changes were necessitated by our broadcast mandate from ICASA, particularly current affairs and drama. However, we've maximised these opportunities with exciting new programming and talent which we believe will cement our position as the country's leading broadcaster of news and information in English."

Mbuli was unable to renew his contract as the demands of his television career increasingly encroached on his radio show. Gwala is no newcomer, having stood in for Mbuli on numerous occasions over the past year.

In the other daytime changes, Ike Phaahla will now present the current affairs show Midday Live (12pm-1pm Mon-Fri) taking over from current host Carolyn Dempster. Tsepiso Makwetla joins the station to co-host the weekday PM Live with Jeremy Maggs from the middle of April.

The other big change to the station takes place on weekends, with current affairs making its debut for three hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and for an hour on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The Saturday focus will be on a wrap of the previous week's most important stories, as well as a special report dealing with one topic in depth. Sundays will have an international news round-up, eco tourism news, religious news and the ever-popular The Editors.

Saturday AM Live is presented by Siki Mgabadeli, Sunday AM Live by Tsepiso Makwetla and Saturday PM and Sunday PM by Fenley Foxen.

Other highlights from the new schedule include woman's programme Otherwise moving to weekday lunchtimes, with programmes from all around the country. Tracy Going returns to radio hosting Jozi Live on Tuesday nights. Thursday evenings takes on a classic feel with The Thursday Concert presented by Simon Lomberg, followed by late Night Classics with Xolisa Mpeqeka, also making his SAfm debut.

Arts and culture comes under the spotlight on 'It's Friday Night', hosted by cultural commentator Kutloano Skosana, and Ike Phaahla loosens things up on Saturday and Sunday nights with the Best Of Jazz for three hours.

The recently announced new weekly drama schedule includes an hour play on Saturday evenings, a half hour play on Sunday Afternoons and a daily serial in the evenings (Mon - Thur), focusing on new South African writing and was launched with a play on the life of Robert Sobukwe on Human Rights Day.