Allie-Paine quits Power FM talkie
TV news anchor and radio host Ayanda AlliePaine quit Power FM’s breakfast show following irreconcilable tensions with co-host Lawrence Tlhabane.
Allie-Paine, who was recently embroiled in vague controversies while on air, announced her resignation during the show and on Twitter on Thursday, citing clashes of her early-morning commitments.
However, Sunday World learned from insiders that the breakfast show host has been having problems with her co-host.
She was heavily compromised because of her close relationships with some prominent people and politicians.
Tension escalated when Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina was being interviewed on the show. Lawrence was asking Masina difficult questions and Ayanda was shielding him from Lawrence. So listeners complained,” said a source.
Listeners were shocked two weeks ago when well known businessman Mabeleni Ntuli asked her to recuse herself from a live interview. Ntuli was being interviewed following a Sunday Times report that implicated him in dodgy dealings involving one of Zuma’s wives.
Allie-Paine, who recused herself, said she did not expect Ntuli to carry whatever tension we had on air. I cross paths with a lot of people and I don’t expect them to carry tensions into a professional space.”
However, another source claimed the former SABC2 presenter fought her personal battles using the show.
Sometimes she would request interviews with people she has personal battles with without consulting Lawrence. She actually used the show to embarrass people.”
Allie-Paine could not be reached for comment, but she insists she has family commitments and denies any disputes with her co-host.
She will be replaced by award-winning journalist Nokwazi Zimu.
Zimu said this will be her first job in seven years as she was a stay-at-home mom looking after her three children. My last job was with
where I worked with Leanne Manas and Vuyo Mbuli,” she said.
Zimu, who will start her new gig tomorrow, previously worked for stations such as East Coast Radio, Talk Radio 702 and e.tv.
Power FM station manager Mpumelelo Mkhabela said: Nokwazi personifies the brilliance our high-quality listeners expect.”