Dodgy back-door deals at metro FM (By Sunday World) - A scandal is brewing at the SABC’s Radio Park following the abrupt firing of Metro FM breakfast show host Kenny Maistry and ex-station manager Matona Sakupwanya .
About a month ago it was reported that Sakupwanya was escorted out of the SABC building.
This week Sunday World sources revealed that Sakupwanya’s embarrassing departure is allegedly linked to the termination of motormouth Maistry’s contract.
A highly placed source says a week before Sakupwanya was escorted out of the building it was discovered that she was involved in inflating Maistry’s salary.
Our informant says that during cross-questioning by the SABC top brass on Thursday, February 24, Maistry claimed that Sakupwanya inflated his salary to R116000 a month.
The going salary rate for programme presenters, DJs and hosts is R40000 a month for three hours a day, five days a week.
The following day, on Friday, February 25, Sakupwanya received a letter informing her that Monday, February 28 would be her last day as Metro FM station manager and she should vacate the building by 4pm.
At about 4pm she was still in the building with her son and had to be booted out by security guards.
Our source says almost everyone is aware of the row between the SABC, Maistry and Sakupwanya, but no one had the courage to talk about it as they are scared they would lose their jobs.
“Think about it. Why would Matona be escorted out almost two months before her contract ends?” asks our source.
The source says another reason she was asked to leave was that she was allegedly trying to employ new DJs, knowing very well her contract was coming to an end.
It’s also alleged that some staff members at Metro signed a petition last year requesting that Sakupwanya be asked not to return from maternity leave.
“Who was going to manage the DJs?” asks the source.
Our source says many people came in as sidekicks at the radio station but ended up presenting prominent shows. Even former bosses and those who’ve left the SABC’s employ have been striking such deals with DJs,” says the source.
“Pity I can’t mention their names. Bizarre things are happening in that building.” Sakupwanya says these are “ludicrous rumours from people who are trying to discredit me.
“I can’t dignify these rumours with an answer because I don’t know where they emanate from,” she says.
“After 11 years at the SABC, why are these inflated salaries coming out now? I don’t understand this.”
Maistry, who mentioned in a recent TV interview that he was taking Metro FM to court, refuses to comment. But says people are planting stories to discredit him.
“Wow, this is ludicrous, absolutely untrue! Who came up with this nonsense? This is clearly a pathetic ploy to discredit Ms Sakupwanya and I,” he says.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says: “Kenny and Matona are no longer employed by the SABC, so I cannot comment on their salary deals.
“Matona wasn’t escorted out of the building. She was asked to stay at home .”
During Matona’s tenure ratings and listenership were radically high at Metro FM.
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