I am a dedicated über-loyal Kfm listener, and was shocked to hear that the new Primedia CEO Omar Essack is planning drastic changes in the Kfm DJ line-up, not one presenter staying in the same daytime slot as currently, from 3 July onwards. The Drivetime Show presenters finish off today, and Ryan O’Connor has already left the Breakfast Show, taking a break currently.  The leaked information about the planned changes made the front page of the Weekend Argus recently.

I am majorly irritated by two Kfm presenters, and have made my views known on their Whats App line without receiving a response!:

#. Sechaba G(qeba), currently the 10h00 to 13h00 presenter, who is a sexist in calling all listeners ‘guys‘ on a regular basis, despite numerous complaints to the new station manager! She is a bad reader of advertorials, and is not always together in doing her job. Her English pronunciation is poor at times!

#. Even worse is the sudden change of Brandon Leigh now doing the 19h00 – 22h00 slot, run very successfully in the past by Tim Thabethe. Brandon shows his age in his choice of music (old school), and loves talking, talking, and talking! He has no vibe compared to the other presenters, just not fitting in, and his music selection is out of synch with the other time channels. 

According to the Weekend Argus the presenter line-up will change as follows from 3 July:

# Darren Simpson, an irritating prankster DJ from Johannesburg, will take over from Ryan O’Connor in hosting the Breakfast Show from 6h00 -9h00. O’Connor has won numerous awards for his show, and has been with Kfm for ten years. O’Connor is on leave currently, and it us clear from his last Breakfast Show broadcasts that he is not happy with the change, a major slap in his face, and insult!

# Ryan O’Connor drives the show from 10h00 -13h00

# Seshaba G moves to the 13h00 – 16h00 slot

# Carl Waistie takes over the drive time slot, from 16h00 – 19h00, as hugely popular Rob Vember and his team Jeremy Harris and Jessica de Silva are leaving the station, with no future plans announced. Today is the last day that Rob and his team host the show, and will be worth listening to for the digs already being aired, with clear dissatisfaction expressed. Zoe Brown will co-present the Drive Time show. Waistie also will host the Coca Cola Top 40 SA on Saturdays.

#   Brandon Leigh presents from 19h00 – 22h00

The newspaper also reports ‘mass resignations’ in staff across the Primedia radio stations 702, Cape Talk, Kfm, and 947. Kfm is said to be on a steady listenership decline, and now is the second largest radio station on the Western Cape, after Heart, having been the number one station for years.

The newspaper article does not speculate about the evening and early morning Kfm presenters.

It will be a sad day when I have to find myself a new radio station – Sundays have gone completely old school, boring compared to the vibey music played on Kfm on the other days, so I have already changed to my Apple Music playlist. So too the weekday 19h00 – 22h00 time slot had lost its vibe with boring Brandon Leigh driving the show!

POSTSCRIPT 24/6: It would appear that the crazy axing of presenters at Kfm is not only focused on the day-time presenters, but to the night time ones too! Pags and the Postman, Julia Joubert, and Twala Ng’ambi have also been axed.  Twala has been with Kfm for five years!

POSTSCRIPT 1/7:  The Kfm logo has been updated, a definite improvement. We have used it in this Blogpost. 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein