Primedia Broadcasting has announced changes to its key early morning, pre-breakfast and drive time shows at Talk Radio 702. Xolani Gwala is joining the station in July, taking over the afternoon drive slot. He hosts SAFM’s morning show for SABC radio.
Current host, David O’ Sullivan moves to the early breakfast show, from 4am to 6am, on 702 and 567CapeTalk. Ray White who has been hosting early breakfast returns to Eyewitness News (EWN).
Talk Radio 702 station manager, Pheladi Gwangwa, said she was “thrilled Xolani is coming home”. Discussions with Gwala started “as far back as a year ago”.
O’Sullivan requested “more flexibility” to deal with personal issues regarding his son, who is autistic. “My son requires more attention as he gets older, and this move allows me to dedicate more time to him and his needs, while still allowing me to pursue my passion of being on the radio,” O’Sullivan said.
Gwangwa said O’Sullivan was a “seasoned broadcaster capable of driving the early breakfast show to cater to the increasing listenership that is awake earlier in the mornings”. She said he would “set the mood for the day’s programming both in Cape Town and JHB”.
Gwala is currently the host of the morning show on SAfm. He joined the SABC newsroom in 1995 as a news reporter and Ukhozi FM newsreader. He later became a current affairs producer and anchor.
Gwala said he was “excited to be re-joining 702. Afternoon drive is a show with pace and I will give you a wrap of the day’s news and current affairs in two hours. The lines are open all the time and talk-back will continue to form an integral part of the show.”
In November 1998, Gwala joined Talk Radio 702 as a news reporter and anchor. He subsequently re-joined the SABC as a Zulu news anchor, worked as news editor/anchor for RAMfm in the Middle East and returned to South Africa to host AM Live on SAfm.
“These changes are part of the station’s long term strategy to remain relevant to our audience in a dynamic and ever-evolving society,” said Gwangwa.
PHOTO: SABC
