The Media Online’s weekly round-up of media business moves, all in one place.
This week’s BIG move
Music industry veteran Thabiso Khati launches Roster, an AI operating system for an artist’s entire business
JO Labs has launched Roster, a fully agentic, end-to-end operating system designed to run an artist’s entire music business from a single platform.
Founded by Thabiso Khati, one of South Africa’s most influential music executives, Roster is now rolling out to a select group of artists, managers and labels by invitation.
Over three decades, Khati has occupied almost every seat in the music business. He compiled The Muthaload, the first original South African hip-hop compilation; headed marketing at Gallo Record Company, where he launched Skwatta Kamp, ProKid and Mr Selwyn; and launched Thandiswa Mazwai and Simphiwe Dana, coining the term Afro-Soul to describe their sound.
He also built concerts and festivals that placed South African artists on the same stage as Pharrell and N.E.R.D and Usher, and staged the country’s first – and only – hologram performance, featuring the late Brenda Fassie. He co-founded Cashtime Life with K.O., ran three divisions at Universal Music Group Africa, produced the Global Citizen Mandela 100 festival and, most recently, managed some of Amapiano’s biggest artists.
“I have spent 30 years breaking down doors in this business, and the hardest part was never the music, it was the machinery behind it,” says Khati, founder and CEO of JO Labs. “Roster is the platform I always wished I had. It does not just store your information, it does the work with you.”
Roster brings the business of being an artist into one connected system. It manages the booking pipeline, from dealing with promoters and building gig calendars to checking flights and creating travel itineraries. It builds release strategies and tracks deadlines, while also functioning as a fan CRM and merchandising platform.
The system registers works with local and international collecting societies and handles contracts, royalties, catalogue valuation and advances. It also includes hundreds of tools, templates, contracts, calculators and guides. As a fully agentic platform, users can simply ask it to complete tasks on their behalf.
People moves
SABC News welcomes Heidi Giokos as presenter of weekend Fullview
The South African Broadcasting Corporation has appointed Heidi Giokos as a presenter of the weekend edition of Fullview, strengthening its news team and commitment to credible, insightful journalism.
Giokos is an award-winning journalist, television presenter and broadcaster with an established reputation in business, financial and current affairs reporting. She is known for translating complex economic, business and social issues into accessible, engaging content.
Her journalism is characterised by a focus on accuracy, balance and stories that matter to audiences.
Deidre Uren, group executive for SABC News, says: “We are delighted to welcome Heidi Giokos to the SABC family. Her extensive experience, professionalism and commitment to impactful storytelling align strongly with our mandate of informing, educating and empowering South Africans. We look forward to the contribution she will make across our news platforms.”
Chappies announces Khuliso Mudau as new brand ambassador
Chappies has announced Khuliso Mudau as its new brand ambassador, bringing together one of South Africa’s best-known brands and one of the country’s most recognisable football talents.
The partnership marks a new chapter for Chappies as the brand enters football through Chappies for Champs, a campaign celebrating South Africans who bring the “Yho!” factor to everyday moments and proving that anyone can be a champion in their own way.
Mudau is a natural fit. The Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana defender has established himself as one of South Africa’s leading football talents, earning recognition both domestically and internationally.
His connection to Chappies goes beyond the pitch. Mudau is known for his signature habit of chewing gum throughout his football career, making the partnership an authentic meeting of two South African favourites.
Time Out South Africa signs Rory Petzer as Culture Connector for sport
Time Out South Africa has appointed Rory Petzer as its new Culture Connector covering all things sport.
The collaboration brings together Petzer’s passion for sport and his talent for finding humour in everyday South African life. A four-time Comrades Marathon finisher, he brings sporting credentials that extend well beyond the armchair.
As Time Out expands across South Africa, the brand is partnering with local storytellers who know their cities and communities best. These collaborations bring South African perspectives to the global platform, helping audiences discover the people, places and experiences shaping local culture.
As Culture Connector, Petzer will bring his distinctive perspective to the games, personalities and sporting moments that get South Africans talking.
Time Out South Africa managing director Aisha Mohamed says the appointment reflects the brand’s ambition to broaden the way it tells the stories of South African cities, with sport playing an important role in the country’s cultural identity.
“Rory brings a distinctive voice, an infectious energy and a genuine passion for South African sport and the people behind it,” says Mohamed.
“Sport is such a powerful part of our culture, it brings people together, creates shared moments and tells us so much about who we are. Rory understands how to tell those stories in a way that is accessible, entertaining and deeply connected to the audience.”
Known for his viral in-car observations, sold-out comedy shows and MC work, Petzer has built a loyal following through sharp, relatable storytelling. His work spans video and the written word, with accolades including multiple Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards and a DStv Content Creator Award.
Gugulethu photographer who captured Cape Town’s creatives needs dialysis to stay alive
Gugulethu photographer and videographer Luvuyo Wogqoyi, whose work has documented South African artists, brands and township creative culture, is raising R100 000 for dialysis and medical support after Stage 5 kidney failure and related heart complications forced him to stop working.
According to Wogqoyi, doctors have told him that his heart is currently too weak for him to qualify for a kidney transplant, leaving ongoing dialysis central to his care. He says he now faces losing access to hospital-based chronic dialysis and needs to secure medical aid, treatment and transport to continue receiving care.
At the centre of his appeal is his six-year-old daughter.
“I am asking for a chance to live for the sake of my six-year-old daughter who needs her father,” Wogqoyi says.
His Save a Life BackaBuddy campaign has raised more than R63 000 towards its R100 000 goal, with 239 donors responding to his appeal.
To support Save a Life, visit:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/save-a-life~12
Business moves
Good Things Guy celebrates 11 years as podcast surpasses seven million streams in 2026
Eleven years after publishing its first story, Good Things Guy has become one of South Africa’s most recognisable positive-news platforms, marking a milestone year that has also seen its podcast emerge as one of the country’s top-performing independent podcasts.
Founded by Brent Lindeque in 2015 to change the conversation around South Africa by shining a spotlight on everyday heroes, inspiring people and remarkable acts of kindness, Good Things Guy has grown into a trusted digital publication dedicated to stories that often go untold.
Over 11 years, the platform has published more than 30 000 stories, covering everything from community initiatives and acts of bravery to business innovation, environmental conservation, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. Nearly 10 000 have celebrated ordinary South Africans whose compassion, resilience and generosity have made an extraordinary impact in their communities.
In the first eight months of 2026, the podcast attracted more than seven million streams across all platforms, with YouTube and Facebook its strongest-performing channels.
The most-streamed episode to date, featuring the story of Baby Eden, has generated more than 650 000 views, while the Good Things Guy YouTube channel has passed 90 000 subscribers and is closing in on 100 000.
Southpaw launches as Slightly Dangerous Co.’s sport and culture agency
Southpaw, a specialist sport and culture agency, is the latest business to emerge from the recently formed independent group Slightly Dangerous Co.
Already operational, the agency’s public launch follows early client wins including Betway, LIV Golf, Icons Series, Auto & General and NTT DATA.
Southpaw was co-founded by Kieren Jacobsen and Jess Porter, with Kganya Zungu completing the leadership team as managing partner. The trio has built careers across the marketing industry, with networks and portfolios spanning blue-chip brands, rights holders and media owners in South African sport and entertainment.
Slightly Dangerous Co. founding partner Warren Moss sees a clear gap in the market.
“This is something that has been in the works for a while and I believe the category is wide open for an agency like Southpaw. Given the calibre of this founding team, we are extremely excited to play.”
Time Out South Africa launches Time Out Durban
Time Out South Africa has launched a dedicated Time Out Durban platform, bringing the global city-guide brand to KwaZulu-Natal.
Durban is the third South African city to join the portfolio under a franchise partnership with Kagiso Media Radio (KMR), following Time Out Cape Town and Time Out Johannesburg, both launched in 2025.
The launch comes as the city gains international attention, with Time Out’s global survey ranking Durban among the best places in the world to travel to in 2026.
Aisha Mohamed, managing director of Time Out South Africa, says Durban was a natural next step for the brand.
“It is a city with such a distinct personality and an incredibly rich mix of culture, food, creativity, entertainment and outdoor experiences. There is always something happening, but part of the challenge for both locals and visitors is knowing where to look and what is genuinely worth experiencing.”
SABC1 launches Go Viral
What happens when the screen goes dark, the likes stop counting and the cameras stop rolling?
SABC1’s new original series, Go Viral, goes beyond the posts, trends and viral moments to uncover the people and stories behind South Africa’s digital personalities.
Premiering on Saturday, 5 September 2026 at 19:30, Go Viral is a 13-part series profiling South Africans whose lives, careers and opportunities have been shaped by the reach of social media.
From comedy, dance and music to education, news, culture and entertainment, the series explores how ordinary moments can become extraordinary opportunities when they connect with audiences online.
But Go Viral is about more than followers, likes and views. It asks the questions audiences do not always see on their feeds: Who were these personalities before the viral moment? What happened when millions began watching? And what does it really take to turn digital attention into something meaningful?
eXplore joins Openview as new channel for wildlife, survival and true crime
Openview has added eXplore to its channel offering, giving viewers a new source of wildlife, survival, real-life mysteries and true crime.
eXplore replaced People’s Planet on 1 September 2026, offering a broader mix of real-world stories built around the premise that the everyday world is stranger than we imagine.
Programming moves between the natural world, life-or-death survival stories and the darker side of human behaviour, with wildlife and conservation titles alongside documentaries, real-life mysteries and true-crime investigations.
The addition forms part of Openview’s continued focus on offering greater variety to viewers. eXplore is available on Openview Channel 115.
Ford SA partners with TUT for Sasol Solar Challenge
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Manufacturing) (Pty) Limited will sponsor Tshwane University of Technology’s TUT SunChaser IV team in the 2026 Sasol Solar Challenge.
The sponsorship forms part of Ford’s commitment to supporting the next generation of South African engineers with more than just a badge on the car.
On 10 September, TUT’s student-built solar car will cross the start line in Sasolburg, beginning an eight-day public-road challenge to Cape Town via the Western Cape and West Coast.
Predominantly designed and built by TUT students, with support from university staff and industry experts, the solar car will put its engineering to the test beyond the workshop and on the open road.
Ford’s involvement goes beyond sponsorship. Its high-tech engineers will work directly with the TUT team as industrial mentors, sharing hands-on expertise in vehicle building, daily preparations, tooling and mechanical advice, as well as mentorship in high-pressure, high-quality environments.
“It’s a direct investment in skills that matter not just for an event like the Sasol Solar Challenge, but for the future of the industry,” says Ford VP of Manufacturing Operations Ockert Berry.
Hook, Line & Sinker secures JOBJACK PR account
South African FIT-based hiring platform JOBJACK has appointed award-winning PR and marketing agency Hook, Line & Sinker (HLS) to lead its B2B public relations and strengthen the company’s profile as it continues to transform store-level hiring.
More than 5.5 million registered job seekers use JOBJACK, with the platform operating across more than 5 000 stores and responsible for more than 65 000 hires since inception.
Founded in 2018, JOBJACK is a FIT-based hiring system built for South Africa’s store-level workforce, helping employers make hiring more objective, scalable and predictable while breaking down barriers for job seekers.
HLS will lead JOBJACK’s B2B PR and media relations programme, drawing on the company’s workforce data, industry expertise and FIT-Based Hiring insights to build its profile across South African business, HR, technology and trade media.
The One Club and CapCut announce major global AI partnership
The One Club for Creativity, the global nonprofit organisation supporting the creative community, has announced an agreement with CapCut, part of ByteDance, to serve as the club’s premier global AI partner.
CapCut is an AI-powered photo and video editing platform available across desktop, mobile and tablet, offering tools spanning video and graphic design, team collaboration and AI-assisted creation.
The partnership covers four of The One Club’s major global awards shows.
Campaign moves
More than four million Deaf South Africans at the heart of heritage: Sign Your Clan brings African clan names to SASL
As South Africa marks Deaf Awareness Week and prepares to enter Heritage Month, Castle Milk Stout’s Sign Your Clan initiative is placing more than four million Deaf and hard-of-hearing South Africans at the centre of the country’s cultural heritage conversation.
Developed in collaboration with SASL specialist, educator and Hands-On Creatives founder Mmatlou Moloto, the initiative has created signs for several traditional African clan names. The signs were developed with SASL and language specialists and vetted and approved by the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB).
The initiative builds on the recognition of SASL as South Africa’s 12th official language in 2023, while demonstrating how language can continue to evolve to reflect identity, culture and the communities that use it.
“Language is far more than communication; it is an expression of who we are, where we come from and where we belong,” says Moloto.
“With more than four million Deaf and hard-of-hearing South Africans, cultural identity and heritage must be accessible to everyone. SASL becoming our 12th official language was a historic step, but language is living and continues to evolve. Sign Your Clan demonstrates how language, culture and identity can come together to create greater inclusion and participation.”
Eskort puts South African braai culture on four wheels with the Braai-Lux
Eskort has partnered with Checkers and Toyota to launch its latest Braai-Lux campaign, celebrating South Africa’s enduring braai culture.
The campaign is rooted in a simple truth: South Africans will braai almost anywhere – in the backyard, at the campsite or at the rugby. To bring that idea to life, Eskort has created one of the most distinctly South African prizes yet.
The BRAAI-LUX is a fully customised New Generation Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 4×4 Raider 6AT Double Cab, sponsored by Toyota and kitted out by Eskort with everything needed for the ultimate braai, including a fridge, gas braai and essential fire-starting tools.
Eskort is giving the Braai-Lux away to one lucky customer who purchases any Eskort product from Checkers or Checkers Sixty60. The winner will also get to fire up the Braai-Lux and enjoy a braai with two-time Rugby World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi.
“This mix of three iconic brands, braai’ing and Bongi is the ultimate South African combination, and we’re excited about the conversations and cultural connections that are springing from the campaign,” says Eskort CEO Arnold Prinsloo.
Betway launches star-studded global marketing campaign – Betway Clubhouse
Betway, the global online betting and gaming brand owned by Super Group (SGHC) Limited, has launched its new Betway Clubhouse global integrated marketing campaign, alongside a six-week immersive sports viewing experience in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Produced in partnership with London-based agency M+C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, Betway Clubhouse brings together a line-up of global sporting stars from across the brand’s extensive partnership stable.
Featured talent includes representatives from Manchester United, its newly announced principal partner, as well as Arsenal FC and Manchester City. The campaign also features football legend Thierry Henry, UFC champion Dricus du Plessis, six-time MLB All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., members of the Springbok squad and Atlassian Williams F1 Team drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.
Forget the gym. Virgin Active is building the Social Wellness Club
Virgin Active has launched Everything You Need Is Inside, a new global campaign rolling out across nine markets and created and produced entirely by South African creative talent.
The campaign is the latest expression of Virgin Active’s Social Wellness Club positioning, reflecting the brand’s evolution from a traditional fitness club into a broader destination for movement, recovery, wellbeing and connection.
Virgin Active is challenging the idea that a fitness club should simply be a place to work out. Instead, it is positioning the Social Wellness Club around the changing needs of people’s wellbeing from day to day.
That can mean training, recovery, nutrition, expert support and community – from a hard workout or swim to a stretch, a moment to focus, time with friends, somewhere to work or simply a place to reset.
In short, the club is no longer just about exercise. It is about helping people feel better physically, mentally and socially.
Making moves
KFC supports Temba Bavuma Foundation’s expansion of the Frida Hartley Shelter Lunchbox Project
The Temba Bavuma Foundation has partnered with KFC to expand the FHS Lunchbox Project, a nutrition initiative run by the Frida Hartley Shelter (FHS) that currently provides around 200 meals a day to vulnerable schoolchildren in Yeoville.
FHS has run the Lunchbox Project for years. The Temba Bavuma Foundation is now taking responsibility for its sustainability and fundraising, while KFC’s support will help strengthen and expand its reach.
Every school day, children stop at FHS on their way to school to collect a lunchbox. For some, it is the only reliable meal they will have that day. What may seem like a simple sandwich can make a significant difference to a child’s ability to concentrate, participate and learn.
The Foundation has worked alongside FHS for years through food drives at the shelter, making the Lunchbox Project a natural extension of the existing partnership.
Temba Bavuma, founder of the Temba Bavuma Foundation, says: “At the Foundation, we have always believed that you cannot separate a child’s education from their wellbeing. A hungry child is not a child who lacks potential. They are a child who has been let down by circumstance. By taking on the Lunchbox Project, we are making sure that no child in this community has to choose between being fed and being fully present at school.”
European Film Festival puts cinema back in the spotlight
European cinema is returning to the big screen in South Africa, with this year’s European Film Festival expanding to four cities and putting the shared cinema experience at the heart of its programme.
Audiences in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban will be able to experience 12 films from across Europe, many fresh from the international festival circuit, as the festival returns with Family as its central theme.
The programme explores the many forms family can take – from fathers and daughters and sibling relationships to young mothers, family histories, inheritance and the legacies people choose to leave behind.
The expanded footprint sees the festival return to established cinema spaces while introducing audiences to new venues, broadening access to European filmmaking across the country.
“Festivals are about more than simply watching a film,” the organisers say, highlighting the opportunity to bring people together around cinema, ideas and shared experiences.
That emphasis on community is particularly relevant to this year’s Family theme, with the festival positioning the cinema as a space where audiences can gather, connect and experience stories together.
The festival runs from 17–27 September 2026 at:
Cape Town: The Labia Theatre
Johannesburg: The Bioscope Independent Cinema; Rosebank Nouveau
Pretoria: Ster-Kinekor Brooklyn Commercial
Durban: The Courtyard at New Noise
ESPN Africa brings the new NFL season to fans across the continent
The road to the next Super Bowl begins as the new NFL season kicks off on ESPN Africa on 9 September 2026, bringing live action from one of the world’s biggest sporting leagues to fans across the continent.
Throughout the regular season, ESPN Africa will broadcast four live NFL games each week as 32 teams begin their pursuit of the playoffs and, ultimately, Super Bowl LXI.
Live games will air across Africa on ESPN (Azam 120, DStv 218, StarTimes 248, Wananchi/Zuku TV 712, ZAP 31) and ESPN2 (Azam 121, DStv 219, StarTimes 249, Wananchi/Zuku TV 713, ZAP 32), as well as on the ESPN and ESPN2 linear channels on Disney+ in South Africa.
Repeat broadcasts will also feature during regular programming hours, giving fans additional opportunities to tune in.
