UMHLOBO Wenene presenter Samora Mangesi is under investigation.
This comes after it was alleged he showed up to work drunk on Friday, 9 April. And as a result, he allegedly could not finish the show.
Iqonga Labatsha listeners said as soon as he switched on the mic, they noticed he was not himself.
Belinda Spellman took to Facebook to share: “Guys, I am listening to Samora’s slot #IQL on Umhlobo Wenene. Hey kuhlangahlangene. I suspect he’s drunk. Khanindipheni indlebe nindimamelise.”
Another listener Ntombi said: “I thought being drunk at work is grounds for immediate dismissal. Let’s see if Samora survives this.”
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But, the former Real Goboza presenter denied being drunk and blamed it on medication.
He took to his Facebook page to apologise to listeners and the SABC.
“I would like to start off by acknowledging and apologising for the events that took place on 9 April, leading up to and during the broadcast of Iqonga Labatsha. It was quite unfortunate and hurtful to see comments after the said broadcast talking to how much I don’t appreciate this opportunity and not committed to this platform, when in actual fact it is quite the opposite. I decided to remain quiet and take the lashing until the matter had been resolved with the necessary stakeholders, to which it now has been,” he said.
He added: “Determined to honour my date with the avid listeners of IQL and Umhlobo Wenene FM, I added more medication and took it more frequently, which looking back was quite foolish. This rendered me incoherent, thus delivering an extremely messy and substandard product on air which led many to believing I was intoxicated. Again, for this I humbly apologise. It has never been and continues to not be my intention to bring the SABC – that I have been with for the past 10 years, my family, myself and anybody else associated with me into disrepute, be it intentionally or unintentionally,” he continued.
He shared that he would be back on air on 7 May.
SABC’s Gugu Ntuli said: “Umhlobo Wenene FM management can confirm that the matter concerning Samora is still under investigation. Management will not comment any further as this relates to an employer-employee relationship.”