By Qabaqongo France
You’ll probably think that the headline above is dramatic after reading this article. That’s okay. I wouldn’t blame you. On August the 2nd, veteran broadcaster Xolani Gwala went back on air after being away for almost a year. 702 announced that XG, as fondly known by many, would be standing in Joanne Joseph on the weekday afternoon drive show for a couple of weeks. Gwala shocked the country in September 2017 when he announced on air that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and that he would be taking some time away from airwaves to receive treatment. He is now cleared of the disease. Listeners are happy that he’s back – however, I’m sure some of them are wondering who’s going to make a way for him between Bongani Bingwa and Joanne Joseph – if at all.
Before Gwala left for remission, he was hosting the weekday breakfast show, which he took over from John Robbie. Stephen Grootes stood in for him for almost 4 months until the station made some few changes in January. Bongani Bingwa took over the breakfast show and Stephen Grootes took over the afternoon drive show. Grootes then left for SA FM to host its weekday breakfast show. Former Power FM host Joanne Joseph took over from him. Bingwa joined the station as Redi Tlhabi’s ‘replacement’ and Joseph joined the station when Grootes left. One could say that Grootes was technically standing in for Gwala even when he was hosting the afternoon drive show. I don’t think he’d have hosted that show had Gwala not been away due to cancer. And I don’t think had Grootes not left, Joseph would have been brought in. And it’s interesting that had Joseph not been away, Gwala would still be away.
I sorely missed Gwala on air. I think Bingwa is doing exceptionally well on the breakfast show. I love Joanne Joseph’s show. I think her show is the best on talk and news radio. I wouldn’t want to see any of them leave the station – however, it looks like one of the two will be leaving ‘their’ slot. I wonder if Grootes foresaw this. But whether or not he did, he is probably thanking himself for going to SA FM. 702 (unwittingly) made this harder by putting Bingwa on the breakfast show when he was originally on the afternoon drive show. Perhaps it was tactically the right thing to do. Now, one would think Joseph was somehow standing in for someone who’s also standing in for someone else who previously had their own show. Had Grootes not left, this would have been easier – especially if he was not removed from the breakfast show. I wonder which slot Gwala will occupy. It must be remembered that Bingwa had his original show before Gwala left, and Joseph didn’t as she had yet to join the station. But does this really matter in radio?
Arg, (maybe) I’m just being ridiculous. The station’s management are professional. I trust they’ll know how to handle this accordingly. The presenters in question (probably) know what was agreed upon. I can’t wait for the next few weeks to see how all this unfolds. I think I know who is more likely to go between the two but I won’t say it.
By Qabaqongo France (The Radio Genius)
