BREAKING. Bessie Tugwana no longer SABC2 channel head but now the SABC's new ''Head of Television'' over SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3.

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I can reveal that Bessie Tugwana is no longer the channel head of SABC2 but is now the South African public broadcaster's head of television presiding in an acting capacity in this newly-titled top executive position over all three of the SABC's TV channels: SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3.

Indicative of a major shake-up being planned by the SABC for its 3 TV stations Bessie Tugwana - who was appointed as the general manager, or channel head, of SABC2 in April 2006 - is now the ''acting head of television'' at the SABC over all three SABC television stations. 

SABC1 channel head Ray Nkwe will be gone soon, while Pulane Tshabalala has been appointed as the new SABC2 channel head in the light of Bessie Tugwana's promotion at the broadcaster. Pulane Tshabalala is now the new ''acting general manager'' of SABC2. SABC3's channel head Mate Mosito-Okaba is also a gonner, to be replaced with a new acting channel head.

It signals a dramatic change for SABC television. Previously the SABC differentiated between its big public services and smaller commercial services. SABC1 and SABC2 as public television channels had a separate top executive line within the SABC, with SABC3 as a public commercial TV channel kept separate. The SABC had an overall head of public broadcasting services (Head of PBS for radio and television) and a head of commercial broadcasting services.

Clearly as part of the SABC's coming Turnaround Strategy this distinction will be falling away. It's becoming clear that the SABC's major restructuring will not be differentiating between ''public television and radio'' and ''commercial television and radio'', but rather all of television on one side (irrespective of whether its public or commercial) and all of radio on the other.

''It's indeed being swapped around,'' an insider tells TV with Thinus. ''All TV together and all radio together.''

Kaizer Kganyago, SABC spokesperson tells me that Bessie Tugwana's appointment in an acting capacity as the SABC's ''head of television'' happened ''not long ago''. As clarification, the new title of ''head of television'' didn't exist before, although basically Bessie Tugwana is performing executive duties that used to be filled by SABC executives who are no longer with the broadcaster.

''Incumbents left,'' says Kaizer Kganyago, ''and those positions were not filled. Once the SABC's Turnaround Strategy is implemented and the final structure is done and approved, posts will be advertised and then be filled.''