New radio challenge for Putco
New radio station challenge for popular Umhlobo Wenene DJ
PORT Elizabeth radio DJ Putco Mafani, who left Umhlobo Wenene FM this week, hopes to bring his charm and wit to new Eastern Cape radio station Rhythm FM. He will manage the station and host a breakfast show.
Mafani, 52, of Parsons Hill, shocked fans on Tuesday when he announced on Facebook that he would no longer be hosting the popular Breakfast Eyond layo Ekseni (BEE) show on Umhlobo Wenene FM.
The new station is set to go live in July, with the construction of offices in East London starting next month.
“At my age, I see this as growth and it is very exciting,” Mafani said.
“The Eastern Cape can expect a good radio sound from the first blackowned commercial radio station [in the province].”
Mafani said Rhythm FM had been in the pipeline after obtaining a broadcasting licence in 2014.
“We had to keep things strictly underground because when we were awarded the licence we did not have funds and we had to embark on a fundraising programme with my partners,” he said.
Mafani, who is affectionately known as “Bhutiza”, joined the Umhlobo Wenene FM breakfast show in 2010 with a listenership of close to 800 000. Over the years this grew to more than three million.
“This has been the most exciting but difficult time for me, to leave Umhlobo Wenene FM,” he said.
The new radio station would boast a radio culture that he had tested through his BEE show, he said.
“At this time of my life I get an opportunity to lead, influence and manage a group of what I envisage will be the most talented, dynamic and innovative young broadcasters of the Eastern Cape as the station manager – something I have been wanting to do for a long time.”
The new station would be 60% Xhosa and 40% English while content would be 70% talk and 30% music.
It would be available through a normal radio frequency as well as online.
Mafani said he had been shocked to discover he would be station manager and host the breakfast show.
“I have been looking forward to a time when I would be directly involved in the recruitment, training and induction of talent in a radio culture which I believe works for me.”
He said Rhythm FM would create more than 30 jobs through on-air staff with the addition of security, admin, sales and logistics jobs.
Dates and venues for auditions would be announced soon.
Mafani is also a shareholder in the new station, which will be working closely with MSG Africa Group, owner of Power FM and Jacaranda FM.
MSG Africa Group executive Given Mkhari said they were happy to welcome Mafani as the station manager of Rhythm FM.
“We are very excited to be going into this venture with Putco. With him at the helm at Rhythm FM, the station will grow exponentially,” Mkhari said.