METRO FM’S Phat Joe and Pearl Thusi have been off the air for about three weeks now.
And although fans have been making a noise on social media to have them reinstated, SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago has said they will only be allowed back on air once all their issues with the radio station have been dealt with.
The hosts of The Real Phat Joe, which airs on the radio station on Saturday mornings, were apparently suspended for making fun of colleague Bonang Matheba and her relationship with rapper AKA.
When asked about listeners who campaigned for the two to be put back behind the microphone, Kganyago said: “We don’t campaign when looking for a job. It’s an issue between employer and employee.”
Pearl referred all queries to her manager and the station’s programmes manager.
Phat Joe’s phone rang unanswered when the SunTeam tried to get hold of him.
Sunday Sun reported two weeks ago that some listeners were sick of Phat Joe and Pearl bashing Bonang and complained to the station.
At the time, Kganyago confirmed they had been taken off air due to a disagreement with management.
Stand-in presenters have been hosting the show since their suspension, including house duo DJ Naves and Sphectacula and William Lehong.
However, the hashtags #BringBackPearlThusi and #BringBackPhatJoe have been trending on Twitter since they were taken off the air.
One user called MrSkota wrote: “Stop embarrassing other kids by making them broadcast to zero listeners.
“We only listen to Joe and Pearl on Saturdays.”
Another listener, Thato Malau, tweeted: “#BringBackPhatJoe. Stop punishing us. We have had enough now. We apologise on his behalf.”
