THERE seems to be no end in sight to the unholy war between Umhlobo Wenene FM presenter Reverend Mzukisi Faleni and the station’s management.
Last month, Daily Sun reported how the SABC unceremoniously dumped the man of the cloth from his popular Imvuselelo show. At the time, the public broadcaster said Faleni was sacked due to being in breach of his contractual agreement.
This after the much-loved reverend apparently joined forces with former co-host Reverend Otto Makhalima at Cape Town community radio station Zibonele FM while still contracted to Umhlobo Wenene.
But Faleni has demanded that the SABC reinstate him within seven days. In a letter from his lawyers Tlhong Attorneys, addressed to SABC Eastern Cape business manager Loyiso Bala and programmes manager Masixole Mdingane, he detailed how he had suffered “great reputational harm”.
Daily Sun has seen the letter, where Faleni said he explained to Mdingane prior to contributing to Zibonele FM the role he would play there, and that Mdingane seemed to understand and had no problem.
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He said he was shocked to receive a letter from the SABC on 10 June, informing him that he was in breach of his contract.
“Our client’s work as preacher and religious leader is greatly built around his reputation and thus he, like Caesar’s wife, should be beyond reproach.
“The mere fact that he has summarily pulled off air without so much as a notice leaves the two million listeners of his show suspicious that he has committed some wrongdoing,” it read.
“In light of the above-mentioned circumstances, we are instructed to demand, which we hereby do now, that our client be reinstated within seven days of receipt of this letter, failing which we hold instructions to approach the High Court of South Africa,” it continued in part.
SABC head of communications Ndileka Cola told Daily Sun that Faleni remained fired and replaced by Nomonde Vakalisa.
