Carolyn Dempster is SAfm's new midday live anchor

National radio station SAfm today announced the appointment of its new lunchtime News anchor. From 3 March, seasoned journalist Carolyn Dempster will anchor the station's Current Affairs programme Midday Live (broadcast weekdays 12 - 1:30pm)

Dempster is no stranger to the South African airwaves - she has served several stints as stand-in presenter on programmes for SABC Radio News. Since 1988 she has worked in various capacities for the BBC - with a special interest in Africa and, more recently, as the BBC World Service's Southern Africa correspondent. She is currently a freelance journalist, reporting for the BBC, Canadian Broadcast Corporation and the American-based service Public Radio International.

"Carolyn has a reputation for thorough and fair reporting, focused interviewing skills and a broad knowledge of current affairs in our country and on the continent. We believe she will greatly add to the credibility and depth of our news and current affairs programs on SAfm," Pippa Green, Head of SABC Radio News said.

Dempster's appointment enhances SAfm's new line-up, which was overhauled at the start of February into a news and talk format.

"By adding a journalist of Carolyn's calibre to our line-up we are further entrenching our position as 'South Africa's News and Information Leader' and we can now look forward to continued growth," SAfm Station Manager Mapule Mbhalati said.

Johan Vollenhoven has been working as stand-in presenter of the programme since the schedule changes on 3 February.