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MBONGENI NGEMA has lashed out at Metro FM DJ and Idols SA judge Unathi Msengana for “snubbing” him twice for an interview on her show.
Msengana is a co-host of the station’s popular breakfast show with Glen Lewis and Melanie Bala.Ngema launched the Zulu TV channel this week, as well as his latest play, “The Zulu”.

Ngema’s publicist, Sash Preachmand, wrote to Metro FM station manager Martin Vilakazi, SABC chief executive Lulama Mokhobo, and acting SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, saying that Msengana’s behaviour was disturbing.

Ngema’s personal assistant, Nombuso Nyuswa, said a meeting had been scheduled for tomorrow to try to resolve the situation. Ngema is said to have been angered and upset at how he was treated at the station.

“What we want is that follow-up interview as it would be the ethical thing to do,when they got a call this past Monday cancelling the second interview, they were given no explanation.

“We were told that it wasn’t going to happen and that they would call us and re-schedule.” said Preachmand
Preachmand adds: “It is truly a sad moment when the giants of the global music community praise a son of Africa.

“Yet he is sidelined in his own country by fellow celebrities like Unathi, who can only dream to achieve even a third of what Ngema has  (achieved).
“It is with great concern that we bring this to your attention, as behaviour like what she repeatedly displays brings the station into disrepute,” he wrote.

The dispute started when Ngema arrived 15 minutes late for an hour-long interview on September 5, said Preachmand.
But Metro FM publicist Happy Ngidi said: “No, he was very late – and it was not by 15 minutes.”

Ngidi also disputes that the interview was to have been for an hour.
“It has never happened in the history of radio. We never give anybody an hour-long interview.”
Preachmand insisted it was to be an hour-long interview. “It was scheduled for 8-9.”

Another interview was scheduled for this week, but it also didn’t happen. That is when Ngema and his team took the matter up with the station and the public broadcaster’s bosses.

Preachmand questioned Msengana’s authority, saying that it should be the producer, not the presenter, who should take such decisions.
He said he was surprised by Metro FM’s decision to “snub” Ngema, because the SABC was a media partner.

“It is unimaginable that a presenter, not even the producer, would decline twice to conduct an interview with Mr Ngema.
“Being a publicist, I work with tonnes of celebrities and on numerous TV and radio shows.

“It is unheard of that the presenter of a show, regardless of how big, would tell the producer of the show what to do.
“That he does not want to interview a particular individual, without a valid reason, and for the presenter to cancel the interview instead of the producer.”

Ngidi agreed that Msengana had no authority to deny an interview, but defended her actions, saying decisions were taken by the show’s entire   team.

“All decisions are taken by the team and not one person alone. The show is not Unathi’s, she is a co-host,” said Ngidi.
She said the station had done nothing wrong and wouldn’t apologise to Ngema. Msengana is not new to controversy.

An open letter was sent to her this year by a listener calling herself Namhla, who lambasted Msengana for “disrespecting” her listeners.
Msengana was placed on “special leave”.

She was at loggerheads with the station manager last year after she claimed that she had been forbidden to interview last year’s Idols SA winner, Khaya Mthethwa.

The SABC confirmed that it prohibited all its stations from interviewing Mthethwa because the reality show was a product of rival station M-Net. – Sunday World.