Picture: Community members handing over memorandum to Vaaltar FM Board of Directors chairperson, Tsholofelo Moepeng
BY REGINALD KANYANE
THE embattled Taung Community Radio Station, Vaaltar FM allegedly suspended two presenters who fought on air recently. The makeshift Station Manager, Kgakololo Mothei could not shed more light on the matter.
Mothei said the day-to-day business of the station is handled by Board of Directors Chairperson, Tsholofelo Moepeng which is strange for any reputable organisation.
The “parasitic bourgeoisie” Moepeng said he cannot comment on the matter. He accused Taung DailyNews to have a personal vendetta against the station. Antagonistic chairperson said this before he hung up: “We cannot comment on the matter because I believe that the newspaper has a personal vendetta against me.
“It is clear that the newspaper wants to wage a war against me. However, I am ready to defend myself and I will do everything in my power. So, I will not comment further on the matter.”
Two presenters, Otsile Phetlhu and Tshepang Seelo were allegedly fighting for booze at Taung Mall few minutes before they took their fight ‘on air’. The newsreader, Dimpho Mohosh who was a stand-in presenter at the time, was heard screaming live on air after two ‘drunkards’ entered the studio.
The station suspended them after they appeared before disciplinary hearing. Vaaltar FM management also suspended news reporter, Omphemetse Montsho but made a U-turn after Taung DailyNews enquired about the matter.
Tshepang Seelo said: “I have not been expelled thus far. I met with the management and I’ll take it from there.”
Vaaltar FM is not new to controversy as the station once clutched the headlines for firing nine presenters at once back in 2015. The presenters confronted the then Station Manager, Ganetsang Sebele and the Board of Directors chairperson, Tsholofelo Moepeng demanding the station’s bank statements and financial records. Phenyo “PC” Kujane, Motshidisi Letlhogela, Tumelo “The Big & Tall” Mogolegeng, Agisanang Scuff, Judge Baardman, Jane Nku, Kenewang Phepheng, Olebogeng Molale, Thato “Dj Notorius” Keolatotse, Lesego Molelekwa (Receptionist) and the late Moalosi Lepholletse were all fired.
Vaaltar FM allegedly received R350 000 from Greater Taung Local Municipality for their Talk shows where the municipality will engage with the community talking about the issues affecting them.
The municipality bought a slot for Mondays and Thursdays between 18:00- 19:00. Fired presenters accused the station management of defrauding the station more than R350 000.
“We were fired because we demanded the bank statement and the financial records. We believe that there are discrepancies because the management could not prove how they’ve spent the money. Transparency is needed, but the management see it differently” one presenter said.
Moepeng said (then) that they dismissed nine presenters because they allegedly disrupted the smooth-running of the business. He said that presenters were not fired over money swindling allegations.
“Those presenters were expelled after they disturbed the smooth-running of the programmes. It is not true that they were expelled for demanding financial records of the station. They were expelled for disrupting the normal broadcasting intentionally.
“Furthermore, I do not have any knowledge regarding financial discrepancy. The major concern to my understanding with relation to R350 000 was on how it was spent,” Moepeng said.
Most of presenters who spoke to us anonymously said Moepeng and his deputy, Omphemetse Leshobo were the parasite cymothoa exigua, or tongue-eating louse, and Vaaltar FM its host, a fish.
The correlation explains that the parasite enters the fish through the gills, settles on its tongue and sucks its blood until the tongue atrophies and falls off. It then becomes the fish’s tongue and the two need one another to survive.
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