eNCA 's latest anchor shuffle has Andrew Barnes and Aviwe Mtila fronting primetime

Thinus Ferreira

eMedia's eNCA (DStv 403) has once again changed its anchor line-up with Andrew Barnes and Aviwe Mtila now fronting primetime on the South African TV news channel since 6 October.

e.tv and eNCA didn't give a heads-up to media about the anchor changes or issue a press release but the latest anchor shuffle comes after John Bailey's exit as eNCA managing editor, which also went unannounced.

It's not known who the new eNCA managing editor is and it's unclear why eNCA once again moved news readers to different timeslots.

Since Monday, the SA Morning strand, which is also shown free-to-air on e.tv, on eNCA is now anchored by Masego Rahlaga and Dan Moyane between 06:00 and 09:00.

This is followed by Newslink between 9:00 and 12:00, anchored by Naledi Moleo.

All Angels between 12:00 and 14:00 has Gareth Edwards as anchor, with Jenna-Leigh Bilong as the face of Today in the afternoon block between 14:00 and 17:00.

Andrew Barnes has been moved to the evenings as the new face of eNCA primetime between 17:00 and 20:00 of SA Tonight, followed by Aviwe Mtila as the anchor of Newsnight between 20:00 and 23:00.

UPDATE Monday 13 October 2025:

A tip of the hat to a reader who messaged that Lukhanyo Calata is currently eNCA director of News. 

Norman Munzhelele is eNCA managing director, and Jody Jacobs has returned from the United States to eNCA and is now eNCA broadcast manager. Mmanaledi Mataboge-Mashetla is eNCA news editor and Aakash Bramdeo is currently the eNCA politics editor.

Thanks to the reader who made me aware of these names that appear at the end of eNCA's current affairs shows.

'THE DUMBER THE BETTER'? Broadcasting Complaints Commission finds that 702's Redi Tlhabi is allowed to criticise and call the government stupid.

Radio woman Redi Tlhabi is allowed to critise the South African government and can say that when it comes to government leadership it looks like a case of the dumber the better.

In a case brought before the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA), it ruled that Redi Tlhabi and talk radio station 702 has the right to give her view in an open, democratic society.

A listener, Esethu Hasane, spokesperson for the department of sport and recreation, laid a complaint against Redi Tlhabi after an open call-in segment on radio 702 in late January – the type of open line call-in's now incidentally banned by the SABC for listeners who want to talk politics.

Redi Hasane, a university graduate working in government, told the BCCSA that Redi Tlhabi's comment was offensive, condescending and degrading to the dignity of the complainant. He said "commentators get away with many things in the name of criticising president Zuma. They make a living of criticising people but don't want to be critisiced".

Redi Tlhabi did the call-in segment after president Jacob Zuma's shocking firing of Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister. She referred to Zuma's statement in December 2015 in Mpumalanga that "the people should not pay attention to people who talk too much on television because educated black people think they are clever".

When a caller asked Redi Tlhabi why the South African government doesn't consult intellectuals, Redi Tlhabi said that "they are intimidated, they told them they are clever blacks and because somehow clever people are dangerous to leadership, the dumber the better".

"I think they are there, they're writing, they're speaking, they're joining protests, and all of that and of course we have an anti-intellectual leadership".

Hasane took offense but the BCCSA found that Redi Tlhabi's show is "aimed at sophisticated, intelligent members of the public who are likely to know, understand and appreciate" that her comments are often provocative and argumentative.

'Constitution guarantees her freedom of expression'

Esethu Hasane lodged a case at the BCCSA, saying Redi Tlhabi's comments suggested that there is an absence of intellectuals in the leadership of the country and that "the dumber the better" is the requirement to be in that leadership.

"It can't be okay for a radio host to say 'the dumber the better' about the leadership of our country like it was not okay for that eNCA anchor [Andrew Barnes] to mock the minister's pronunciation of an English word. I would imagine that if Redi was a white lady, she was not going to get away with saying that the leadership of our country is dumb".

The BCCSA found that "Redi Tlhabi's comments may have been offensive and elitist but the fact of the matter is that the Constitution guarantees her freedom of expression to receive or impart information or ideas".

"Inasmuch as Hasane has a constitutional right to freedom of expression, so too does Redi Tlhabi enjoy the same right".

"The right to freedom of expression is not dependent on the dissemanation of acceptable or rational ideas only; indeed it extends to opinion or views that might be anathema to those who occupy influential positions in society or in institutions," the BCCSA found.

The BCCSA found that the Redi Tlhabi's 702 programme did not contravene the Broadcasting Code and the complaint was not upheld.

Veteran reporter Andrew Barnes leaves eNCA; the longtime News Day anchor will exit at the end of April, closing yet another chapter at the news channel.

The senior TV anchor Andrew Barnes is done with eNCA (DStv 403), becoming the latest high-profile name leaving the Sabido-run TV news channel in the ongoing exodus of highly experienced brand names and on-screen talent.

Andrew Barnes' sudden resignation as the longtime anchor of eNCA's News Day on eNCA and e.tv came as a shocking surprise to staff in the same week as the longtime anchor and reporter Robyn Smith signed off on Monday night when she read her last eNews Direct bulletin on e.tv.

Both Andrew Barnes and Robyn Smith clocked 15 years at eNCA and eMedia Investments' eNews brand.

The reporter, editor and anchor Andrew Barnes will leave eNCA at the end of April where he brought gravitas, stability and credibility to eNCA's mid-noon schedule over many years. In a statement eNCA says it thanks Andrew Barnes for his loyalty and hard work over the years.

His exit is the latest in an ongoing string of retrenchments and resignations at the news channel that started in 2015, with eNCA being gutted by a massive loss of experienced and talented staffers in front of, and behind the scenes.

While eNCA remains the most watched TV news channel among all of the local and international TV news channels available on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, the ongoing loss of expertise and skill in TV news channel operation and reporting on eNCA has become noticeable the past few months.

eNCA's reporting has been marred by incidence of blatant plagiarism and even pay-for-play reporting - a sign of what appears to be compromised news values at eNCA and new people who don't care, of perhaps simply don't know better, when it comes to reporting news.

The exit of Andrew Barnes also brings another eNCA chapter to a sad close.

When the veteran Andrew Barnes takes off his lapel mic for the last time at the end of this month, it will mark the final end of literally all of the original on-screen faces and several news executives behind the scenes who were at e.tv's eNews brand and evening bulletin before and at the moment eNCA launched in June 2008 and who were part of, and transitioned to the rolling TV news channel.

Andrew Barnes will close the door as the last one in a string of eNCA losses who were all part of a special group of people who started the news channel and who are no longer at eNCA: the likes of Marcel Golding, Patrick Conroy, Chantal Rutter Dros, Pat Pillai, Debora Patta, Ben Said, Robyn Smith and others.

It was Andrew Barnes who was instrumental in spotting and bringing the affable meteorologist Derek van Dam, now at CNN International (DStv 401), originally into the eNCA fold.

Michelle Craig, the umpteenth new co-host in a revolving door of presenters next to Andrew Barnes over multiple years will now continue to anchor News Day alone from May. Observers say its further evidence of the ongoing downscaling of the prominence given to eNCA's Cape Town studios on the channel with News Day that's anchored from eNCA's hub in the Mother City.

In January Andrew Barnes made headlines when he mocked the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga's for being unable to correctly say the word "epitome" when she announced the 2015 matric results.

He apologised and was suspended with disciplinary action taken against him although eNCA refused to tell the public what sanctions were taken.

Andrew Barnes, who'd holidayed in south-east Asia and earlier this year told viewers how peaceful it was there with a cellphone without reception, is planning to move to Cambodia to launch a start-up business.

"It's been an incredible journey here at e.tv," says Andrew Barnes. "I have been able to realise my childhood dream of anchoring TV news and reporting from places like Washington DC., New York and London. Those opportunities followed several rewarding years in news management."

"I leave South Africa with my partner to start a new life in my favourite corner of the world, south-east Asia. I'll be putting the years of experience I've gained in training and development to launch my own business in Cambodia."

"While Brandon and I shall miss this country, we're excited that the time has come to spread our wings. I leave the e-family with a profound sense of satisfaction with my contribution, most especially of all the new talent I have helped train and develop."

Mapi Mhlanga, eNCA news director says Andrew Barnes will be missed. "I would like to thank him for 15 years of dedication and professionalism. Andrew will be missed and it is difficult to imagine the Cape Town office without him."

OPINION. After its Andrew Barnes anchor misstep eNCA just damaged its credibility further - not by removing him but being opaque about what actions it took afterwards.

Everybody makes mistakes but eNCA (DStv 403) as a TV news channel just made another unnecessary and avoidable mistake by refusing to be transparent about another mistake - a bad decision for a product where credibility and viewer trust is paramount.

Two weeks after eNCA's (DStv 403) NewsDay anchor Andrew Barnes (who I personally think is excellent at his job) got caught up in an unfortunate on-air incident the midday anchor of the Sabido-run TV news channel on DStv will be back on air on Wednesday.

The problem and further damage to eNCA's credibility is the channel's flat-out refusal to say what specific punishment was handed out to Andrew Barnes.

It now places eNCA on the same level as Infinity Media's ANN7 (DStv 405). ANN7 also wants to stay silent about its own multiple disciplinary hearings and the specific outcomes - although it is news, with the result that the lack of being open damages its standing and credibility as a news brand.

All eNCA wants to say - feels to say - is that Andrew Barnes was "sanctioned".

eNCA says "the nature of the sanction remains a matter between eNCA and Andrew Barnes."

That's funny, hollow and completely fake since the original transgression was between Andrew Barnes and the viewers.

Andrew Barnes' perceived on-air error was a public one. Yet eNCA wants to hide the specifics of what specifically happened to the anchor from this "public".

That damages the implied transactional and unspoken relational concord between eNCA and its viewer.

It is what is called a trust deficit: When your in the news and the perceived truth business, but you want to be secretive and obtuse yourself, it doesn't align with your brand and the values that you supposedly say you stand and are for.

eNCA wants the DStv viewer to trust it, to trust its brand, to trust what the person who is on eNCA is saying - in this case anchor Andrew Barnes.

Andrew Barnes made what was perceived by some viewers and eNCA management to be a mistake. Disciplinary action followed. But now eNCA doesn't want to be as open, transparent, upfront and honest with the exact viewer that eNCA admitted it it failed.

That sadly dents eNCA's credibility.

Let's say a car manufacturer is exposed as having a defective part or discovers a problem.

The car manufacturer admits it and says corrective steps will be taken. There are recalls, there's communication as to what exactly is wrong, went wrong, why - and then - what exactly is being done and has been done.

Imagine the car manufacturer just remains silent and just says "the broken part has been fixed. The nature of the sanction remains a matter between the car manufacturer and the part supplier".

Now the car manufacturer wants people to trust it that, yes, the parts and cars are fixed.

It would be ridiculous. People simply won't trust that it really has been fixed without any specifics as to what exactly happened.

Yet that is precisely what eNCA is now doing.

eNCA wants DStv subscribers to continue to trust it in blind faith after a mistake but isn't willing to be open to those consumers of its news service as to how it specifically responded and reacted and what specific steps it took to "fix" or address the mistake that happened.

eNCA just want to say there was a "sanction". Well, well done, eNCA, that dent you see is the one you caused yourself to your car with the paint that's not called metallic red but credibility.

While Andrew Barnes as anchor is one of the public faces of eNCA and part of the image of eNCA, the TV news channel wants to be "private" when it should be open and forthcoming about a failure.

It damages the trust people can have in the eNCA brand and makes it difficult for people watching eNCA to have trust in its news product if you can't make, for yourself, any reasonable assessment as to how eNCA responded in terms of what action was taken.

It's disingenuous that eNCA reports, and wants to report on news like the insider details of other disciplinary hearings, or meetings or discussions but then slams shut when the spotlight is turned on itself.

In the process eNCA undermines its own credibility by not taking its viewers into its confidence.

I don't think its necessary for eNCA to give the whole truth - but the mere basics about exactly how its anchor Andrew Barnes was "sanctioned" would have engendered a feeling in viewers and stakeholders of eNCA being really open and trustworthy.

Unfortunately eNCA chose not to and its interesting that the news channel that is in the news business doesn't appear to understand this or have sensitivity to this aspect.

You can't be discretionary public the one moment, and then elect to suddenly be discretionary private the next when it suits you - especially not when you're in the media - or even when you are the media.

The subtext eNCA is communicating (by not communicating) is that it won't be open about the specifics of its errors - even when asked - like what happened to an anchor who made a mistake. Yet eNCA wants you to trust it in whatever else it reports as news.

Yes. eNCA damaged its reputation of fairness. It was a mistake.

But now eNCA damaged its credibility in a preventable mistake by not being as open as it should be about its first mistake.

After publicly removing him, eNCA refuses to tell viewers exactly what anchor Andrew Barnes' punishment is; anchor will return on Wednesday to NewsDay.

eNCA (DStv 403) refuses to tell its viewers what punishment the Sabido-run TV news channel meted out to its NewsDay anchor Andrew Barnes.

eNCA says Andrew Barnes will be back on air on Wednesday, 20 January after being off-air for two weeks, but is silent on what specific steps the "sanction" taken against the removed midday anchor entails.

The TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform removed Andrew Barnes with immediate effect as NewsDay anchor on 7 January and started disciplinary proceedings after he quipped on-air about the minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga, that "maybe someone should have a word with the basic education minister on how to pronounce the word epitome".

eNCA management said Andrew Barnes' comment was "not only hurtful and unnecessary but deeply insensitive".

Andrew Barnes apologised following the social media firestorm that engulfed eNCA, and also did an on-air apology as part of an eNCA report on the matter.

After Andrew Barnes was publicly removed from eNCA airwaves, viewers are left in the dark as to the specific nature of what actions were instituted against the anchor in the disciplinary process.

Despite a lack of what specific actions were taken against Andrew Barnes, eNCA tells TV with Thinus that it wants viewers to be confident that it dealt fairly with the matter.

"An internal disciplinary process has been conducted" says eNCA, saying "the sanction is a matter of privacy between the company and Andrew Barnes".

"eNCA is confident that the process has been dealt with expeditiously and fairly. The company will not tolerate any actions that are considered not to be fair and accurate commentary".

In a statement earlier, eNCA only says Andrew Barnes "co-operated fully and has been sanctioned".

"To date he has been a model employee without any previous transgressions. He has shown remorse for his conduct and the company also accepted his internal apology. The nature of the sanction remains a matter between eNCA and Andrew Barnes."

eNCA starts reporting on air about anchor Andrew Barnes who appears in a recorded message saying he's sorry: 'Realise now comment caused a lot of hurt'.

On Thursday afternoon eNCA (DStv 403) finally started reporting about its own senior anchor Andrew Barnes who the Sabido-run TV news channel on DStv started disciplinary measures against following an on-air comment regarding the basic minister of education, Angie Motshekga - including a recorded on-air apology from Andrew Barnes.

A social media firestorm of criticism engulfed the respected anchor of News Day on the Sabido-run TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform on Wednesday when, after a video clip of the basic education minister, Andrew Barnes quipped that "maybe someone should have a word with the basic education minister on how to pronounce the word epitome".

eNCA has taken Andrew Barnes off air with immediate effect with Amy MacIver substituting on News Day on Thursday afternoon.

Later on Thursday afternoon eNCA, which initially didn't report the news late on Wednesday or early Thursday, finally started to report about the incident on-air.

eNCA anchor and reporter Cathy Mohlahlana told viewers that "a controversial comment by a eNCA anchor has drawn a strong reaction on social media. Senior anchor Andrew Barnes remarked on basic education minister Angie Motshekga's pronunciation" and that eNCA is following "due labour practice".

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA news director, read the same statement on-air that eNCA supplied to the media, saying "his comment was not only hurtful and unneccessary, but deeply insensitive. eNCA apologises for his comment."

"We remain committed to honest, fair, accurate and unbiased reporting. Any action or statement from an employee that undermines that ethos is taken very seriously."

Andrew Barnes who was taken off air, is appearing on-air in a recorded apology.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity to apologise for a comment that I made on News Day on Wednesday afternoon," said Andrew Barnes, appearing with an unbuttoned shirt and without a tie.

"I made fun of the education minister's pronunciation of the word 'epitome'. I realise now that that comment caused a lot of hurt and offense because ultimately it was unfair and insensitive. To those at home and minister Motshekga, I'm sorry," said Andrew Barnes.

eNCA also placed the on-air apology on its website at 15:22 on Thursday afternoon.

BREAKING. eNCA removes anchor Andrew Barnes with immediate effect, starts disciplinary measures after 'hurtful, unneccessary, insensitive' comments.

eNCA (DStv 403) has removed Andrew Barnes with immediate effect and started disciplinary measures against its senior anchor following his "deeply insensitive" remarks over the basic education minister Angie Motshekga's English pronunciation.

A social media firestorm of criticism engulfed the respected anchor of News Day on the Sabido-run TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform on Wednesday when, after a video clip of the basic education minister, Andrew Barnes quipped that "maybe someone should have a word with the basic education minister on how to pronounce the word epitome".

eNCA has taken Andrew Barnes off air with immediate effect with Amy MacIver substituting on News Day on Thursday afternoon.

While eNCA hasn't done a story about its own anchor's social media storm as it has frequently done and earlier this week with Penny Sparrow, eNCA is now running an on-air scroll in the bottom third saying "eNCA anchor Andrew Barnes offers heartfelt apology for hurtful comment about education minister".

In response to a media enquiry eNCA tells TVwithThinus that disciplinary proceedings are underway over the on-air incident, saying Andrew Barnes' comments were "not only hurtful and unnecessary but deeply insensitive".

"eNCA apologises for his comment. eNCA remains committed to honest, fair, accurate and unbiased reporting. Any action or statement from an employee that undermines that ethos is taken very seriously," says the news channel.

"We have begun disciplinary measures against Andrew Barnes. Andrew has been taken off air with an on-air apology to be broadcast this afternoon".

eNCA anchor Andrew Barnes apologises after social media storm for saying that education minister Angie Motshekga doesn't know how to pronounce 'epitome'.

@eNCA why is your Anchor imocking Min Angie's inability to pronounce an English word ? pic.twitter.com/Nh9pEhaLmA

— @esethuhasane (@EsethuHasane) January 6, 2016

The respected eNCA (DStv 403) senior anchor Andrew Barnes has apologised after causing a social media firestorm after noting and editorialising that Angie Motshekga, the minister of basic education doesn't know how to correctly pronounce the word "epitome".

Angie Motshekga mispronounced "epitome" during her speech of the results of the 2015 matric year.

Afterwards Andrew Barnes noted on the Sabido-run TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform that Angie Motshekga doesn't know how to pronounce the word "epitome".

"Maybe someone should have a word with the basic education minister on how to pronounce the word epitome," said Andrew Barnes.

Andrew Barnes apologised on Twitter, writing "my heartfelt apologies for the hurtful comment I made about the Education Minister's English today. You all expect more of me. I'm sorry."

The social media furore was sparked when Esethu Hasane, spokesperson for the department of sport and recreation, posted a video clip on Twitter showing Andrew Barnes' eNCA comment.

"So its fine for eNCA anchors to pronounce African names/words however but they can mock Africans for not pronouncing English words properly," said Esethu Hasane.

eNCA that has covered various social media flare-ups and so-called "Twitter-wars" has so far failed to give coverage to this story that involves eNCA itself.

BREAKING. eNCA 'will not comment' about Bhavna Singh; Michelle Craig to replace the dumped anchor on eNCA's News Day from 7 April.

"eNCA (DStv 403) will not comment on the departure of Bhavna Singh," Patrick Conroy, the managing director of e.sat, told TV with Thinus on Monday, with Michelle Craig who is now set to replace her on News Day.

It follows after the shocking and abrupt dumping of Bhavna Singh who co-anchored her last News Day on eNCA on Friday without so much as a pre-announcement goodbye from eNCA, a pre-leaving scheduling note, or a post departure update as to who is replacing her in the timeslot from the channel.

On Friday Sabido Investments, owner of e.tv and enCA, warned in a statement of retrenchments as it is looking at the possible closure of several divisions, including eCNA Africa.

At the beginning of this month e.tv moved its English prime time TV news bulletin from 19:00 to 20:30 with eNCA news anchor Pat Pillay who joined in 2004, who is also out.

An insider last week told TV with Thinus that "they [eNCA] have no money, so when contracts are up they are not renewing".

Patrick Conroy says "eNCA will not comment on the departure of Bhavna Singh. Her contract with our company ran its course and we wish her well in the future".

Asked about who, if anyone is replacing her, eNCA says Michelle Craig will partner with Andrew Barnes on News Day. "Michelle Craig has worked as a reporter and stand-in anchor for eNCA in the past".

Michelle Craig will start on News Day on eNCA on Tuesday 7 April.

BREAKING. Bhavna Singh gone from eNCA and News Day without a word from eNCA about her sudden departure and possible replacement.

Midday eNCA (DStv 403) anchor Bhavna Singh is suddenly gone from News Day and the 24-hour South African TV news channel where she anchored alongside Andrew Barnes without a single word from the channel about her, why she's gone, who is replacing her and what is happening from Monday.

Bhavna Singh co-anchored her last afternoon news shift alongside veteran anchor Andrew Barnes on Friday with eNCA which didn't announce her shocking departure beforehand, has so far not said a single word about her or her departure, and has been silent on whether she will be replaced from Monday, and if so, by whom.

The accomplished Bhavna Singh joined News Day as Andrew Barnes' next co-anchor in the dynamic afternoon news slot between 13:00 and 16:00 on weekdays of which a portion is simulcast on e.tv.

News Day is done from e.tv and eNCA's studio in Cape Town.

Bhavna Singh who originally had late night and weekend slots on the eNews Channel, eNCA's former name, moved to News Day in May 2012 to become the new permanent co-anchor of News Day.

Almost three years later she is gone without a word from eNCA, and no word from the news channel whether there will be a replacement.

Bhavna Singh replaced Scheherazade Safla, who replaced Robyn Smith in the timeslot opposite Andrew Barnes.

It's astounding and shocking that eNCA couldn't get itself to communicate Bhavna Singh's departure or say something about her, or bother enough about News Day or signal it's importance to tell viewers officially either before or even afterwards what is happening with the channel's programming and changes to it.

BREAKING. eNCA back up; anchor Andrew Barnes: 'Good to be back on-air after some gremlins have been weeded out of the system'.

You're reading it here first.

eNCA (DStv 403) is back on-air with live news programming and reporting at 11:56 after suffering a shocking system failure at its Hyde Park headquarters on Monday morning which cause a blackout of the South African 24-hour TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform.

A power surge crashed the eNCA's news system on Monday eNCA told TV with Thinus.

A very good morning to you, this is NewsDay on eNCA, I'm Andrew Barnes. Good to be back on-air after some gremlins have been weeded out of the system," the veteran Cape Town based anchor told viewers at 11:56.

The TV news channel decided not to wait until 12:00 to start NewsDay but to immediately show DStv subscribers that eNCA is back up and running with live news coverage.

eNCA is the most watched in South Africa of all of the available 24-hour TV news channels, local and international channels included.

The loss on Monday morning of eNCA marks the second major broadcasting interruption of the eNews service, co-incidentally again on a Monday.

On Monday 24 October 2011 the eNews Channel - the former name of eNCA- froze and cut out on DStv leaving viewers and DStv subscribers clueless as to what happened to the channel.

The loss of eNCA on Monday morning also marks the second major TV channel loss and interruption incident occuring on MultiChoice's operated satellite pay-TV system this month.

Earlier in April DStv subscribers lost SABC1, SABC2, SABC3 and SABC News (DStv 404) due to a "complete failure of MultiChoice head-end equipment" with the back-up which failed too.

BREAKING. eNCA goes off the air on DStv; cause of the blackout of 24-hour TV news channel is unknown.

You're reading it here first.

eNCA (DStv 403) is off the air; the 24-hour TV channel from Sabido Investment Limited went dark and experienced a blackout on Monday morning on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform.

The reason of the blackout is unknown; eNCA didn't say why the news channel disappeared, and e.tv and eNCA didn't immediately respond to a media enquiry made asking about the channel. No press release was issued.

eNCA's screen is completely black and blank, with only an eNCA channel logo displayed in the bottom left corner of DStv subscribers' TV screens.

eNCA is the most watched in South Africa of all of the available 24-hour TV news channels, local and international channels included.

The loss on Monday morning of eNCA marks the second major broadcasting interruption of the eNews service, co-incidentally again on a Monday.

On Monday 24 October 2011 the eNews Channel - the former name of eNCA- froze and cut out on DStv leaving viewers and DStv subscribers clueless as to what happened to the channel.

The loss of eNCA on Monday morning also marks the second major TV channel loss and interruption incident occuring on MultiChoice's operated satellite pay-TV system this month.

Earlier in April DStv subscribers lost SABC1, SABC2, SABC3 and SABC News (DStv 404) due to a "complete failure of MultiChoice head-end equipment" with the back-up which failed too.

eNCA came back on at 10:32 on Monday for about one minute, after being off air for 20 minutes, and then went back to black - this time with no eNCA channel logo displayed.

At 10:37 eNCA went to blue screen, displaying the static "Cape Town Studio 201 NewsDay/UEFA".

At 10:38 eNCA started displaying the static message: "NOTE: APOLOGIES ALL. We're experiencing technical difficulties which we are working to solve".

At 10:42 the on-screen note apologising and telling DStv subscribers that the channel is having technical difficulties disappeared, showing just a static eNCA channel logo. The note reappeared from 10:47.

At 11:08 eNCA started with a repeat of Judge for Yourself after trying for several times to start the episode and viewers hearing the theme song playing several times unsuccessfully over another sound track with no visual.

eNCA gave no live anchor made apology when the news channel resumed, nor explained what happened and Judge for Yourself played out with no bumpers, promos or commercials - indicative of the ongoing systemic problems behind the scenes at the channel.

At 11:25 eNCA tells TV with Thinus that a power surge knocked eNCA's news system at its Hyde Park headquarters causing the channel blackout. eNCA said it hoped to be back on-air with live news programming and reporting by noon on Monday.

At 11:56 eNCA NewsDay anchor Andrew Barnes welcomes DStv subscribers and viewers back to the channel saying "Good to be back on-air after some gremlins have been weeded from the system".

The best-dressed TV news correspondent for the 2014 opening of parliament and the State of the Nation Address? Andrew Barnes of eNCA.

It wasn't even a competition. Not even close. The best-dressed TV news correspondent covering the 2014 opening of parliament in Cape Town and the State of the Nation Address was eNCA's Andrew Barnes.

None of the roving reporters, correspondents or anchors on eNCA (DStv 403), SABC News (DStv 404) or ANN7 (DStv 405) came close to looking as perfectly put together as Andrew Barnes did when he covered parliamentary arrivals and did red carpet duty on Thursday late afternoon.

Andrew Barnes is a veteran when it comes to live on-location TV news reporting - and it very clearly shows.

Out of all the TV news channels in South Africa Andrew Barnes was the single TV correspondent and news anchor dispatched to parliament who has the most experience, on the spot insight, and the most technical hurry-up-and-wait and stand-and-deliver man hours under his belt.

He also very clearly did his preparation and memorised things to say - which viewers would think all TV news correspondents would do as a normal part of the job but clearly doesn't happen. Andrew Barnes is also a spiffy, snappy dresser.

Being a TV correspondent isn't about clothes. It's about the get, its about the delivery, its about the story, it's about the perfect sound bytes which brings understanding.

Yet on Thursday afternoon out of all the roving reporters it felt as if only Andrew Barnes on eNCA really made any effort to fit the part - just as he did late in 2013 when he also did exceptional live coverage from parliament following the death of Nelson Mandela.

Clothes do help to make the man, but on Thursday Andrew Barnes helped to make eNCA's live parliamentary coverage great.

South Africa's TV newsers front and centre at parliament in Cape Town for the 2014 State of the Nation Address.

South Africa's TV news reporters are front and centre at parliament today for live coverage of the opening of parliament and president Jacob Zuma's 6th State of the Nation Address.

ANN7 (DStv 405) didn't respond to media enquiries regarding parliamentary coverage today but the Infinity media 24-hour news channel has Hajra Omarjee (above) in Cape Town reporting.

It's Hajra Omarjee's first time covering parliament's opening for television. ANN7 also has reporter Kevin Brandt reporting from Cape Town, dressed all in black as well as reporter Qaanitah Hunter.

SABC News (DStv 404) didn't supply names following a media enquiry as to who the South African public broadcaster will have at parliament today, but Alicia Jali (below) is reporting from Cape Town for SABC News.

It's also Alicia Jali's first time covering the opening of parliament for television and SABC News.

The SABC also has political editor Vuyo Mvuko (above) reporting live from parliament. Abra Barbier, parliamentary correspondent for the SABC, did parliamentary red carpet coverage.

eNCA (DStv 403) did respond to a media enquiry earlier this week about that 24-hour TV news channel's coverage.

Andrew Barnes (below) from News Day - a veteran when it comes to live parliamentary TV coverage - and reporter Paula Chowles are covering live from parliament on eNCA. Xoli Mngambi as well as Lester Kiewit also joined later on Thursday evening.

The eNCA News Night co-anchor Iman Rappetti is also be covering the event today live from parliament.

eNCA and e.tv to cover the 2014 State of the Nation live on Thursday 13 February; Iman Rappetti and Andrew Barnes to anchor.

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The South Africa 24-hour TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) as well as e.tv will both be covering the 2014 State of the Nation Address (SONA) live this Thursday 13 February.

eNCA will do live coverage on Thursday throughout the day.

SABC2 will also carry the 2014 State of the Nation Address live, and will also have live afternoon coverage on Thursday afternoon.

The other two South African TV news channels, SABC News (DStv 404) and ANN7 (DStv 405) will very likely also cover the State of the Nation Address on Thursday; both the SABC and ANN7 is yet to respond to media enquiries regarding what each will be doing regarding coverage.

eNCA's State of the Nation coverage will be anchored by Iman Rappetti and Andrew Barnes on Thursday 13 February from 16:00 until 18:16. eNCA will broadcast the opening of parliament live, followed by president Jacob Zuma's 2014 State of the Nation Address.

eNCA will have detailed expert analysis, as well as reaction from the public, politicians and pundits on Thursday.

e.tv will scrap eNews Early Edition on Thursday, which will be replaced by soap Rhythm City and sister soap Scandal! will move earlier on Thursday to 18:30.

eNews Prime Time on e.tv on Thursday will be preempted by eNCA's special coverage, with the State of the Nation Address running on both channels from 19:00 until 20:30.

There will be no Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola episode on Thursday on e.tv, and e.tv's normal programming will resume on Thursday night at 20:30 with Rachel Getting Married.

eNCA news channel on DStv unveils its excellent new anchor line-up; adding Eleni Giokos as permanent new anchor.

eNCA (DStv 403) unveiled its new anchor line-up to co-incide with the name change of the eNews Channel to simply eNCA and its expansion to the United Kingdom from tomorrow.

The new eNCA anchor line-up is excellent. It not only shows what's possible when you invest in people as a news media outfit, but the experienced telegenic news anchors are all qualified and the eNCA has a cache of talented TV news stars making several options possible.

The eNCA's new line-up will fully and officially come into effect from Monday 20 August although Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs already co-anchored News Night together on Thursday night last week as their very first - and very successful - try-out. 

Here is the new eNCA line-up:

06:00 - 09:00 Morning News Today

Gareth Edwards, Ayanda Allie-Payne

Gareth Edwards and Ayanda Allie Paine will co-anchor the morning broadcast from now on. 

Ayanda Allie Paine will have to go to bed early so as to not fall asleep on the job. 

Ayanda Allie Paine is the least experienced of all the permanent new anchors; but is very able supported by the excellent Gareth Edwards who've transitioned extremely successfully from sport to anchoring the general news. 

Bonus points for the times when Gareth Edwards has already shown to be able to suddenly integrate the latest sport scores into news bulletins and immediately provide context and insight without the help of a teleprompter.

09:00 - 13:00

Macfarlane Moleli, Eleni Giokos

Macfarlane Moleli has more than paid his dues and continues to do so (and how wonderful that someone who studied on a rugby bursary can become a news anchor!). Eleni Giokos who joined the eNews Channel in July - news I scooped RIGHT HERE and who have done anchor duty during the day during August now gets this fixed anchor position. 

Macfarlane Moleli is well experienced as a TV anchor and holding down mid-morning coverage - as is Eleni Giokos.

Eleni Giokos must be so glad to be away from the doldrum pre-recorded CNBC Africa sponsored seminars which is so embarrassing to that business news channel while real news is happening. Eleni Giokos took the floor running and is a formidable asset for the eNCA in the anchor stable. 

With business news coverage starting mid-morning she's also perfectly placed to bring immediate insight and analysis on business matters if that's required. Her sterling acquisition by eNCA has immediately been put to good news.

13:00 - 16:00 News Day

Andrew Barnes, Bhavna Singh

There is simply no better agenda-setting, real-time TV news show in South Africa during midday than News Day anchored from Cape Town by the already-good-wine-getting-better Andrew Barnes, recently paired with Bhavna Singh.

News Day on the eNCA does for South African TV viewers what American local city broadcasts have been doing for years and which Americans take for granted - it's real news, told visually, as it happens. 

News Day not only report the news, but responds to it before the story is done - very difficult to do when you don't yet have all the answers or the complete picture and can't get guests to studio because they're still making the news.

Bhavna Singh is the next new co-anchor for Andrew Barnes. Will she last in this new timeslot? Since they all seem to leave, leaving Andrew Barnes almost constantly having to settle in with a new changing co-anchor dynamic. 

He does pull the musical chairs of changing co-anchors off very well however - as well as being the de facto voiceover go-to guy for the eNCA news promos.

Bhavna Singh is a tad more serious in her on-screen presence than Andrew Barnes' previous co-anchors - it's not necessarily a bad thing. Being less breezy means overall more grativas for News Day as her demeanour more closely echoes that of the formidable Andrew Barnes.

16:00 - 18:00

Joanne Joseph

Currently on leave with Debora Patta sitting in temporarily on late afternoons on the eNCA, Joanne Joseph keeps her berth during the later afternoon when the tier in which the day's biggest news stories of the day are going to rank start to crystalise with more in-studio guests already talking about the day's news events and newsmakers doing phone interviews.

18:00 - 21:00 News Night

Jeremy Maggs, Iman Rappeti

Oh my. the eNCA immediately captured lightning in a bottle with the new pairing of Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti for the news channel's flagship 2 hour nightly news show. 

I'm so immensely impressed by the instant chemistry, utter flowing professionalism and spontaneous exuberance which has been unlocked by moving and pairing Iman Rappetti with Jeremy Maggs.

Is this powerful news duo now together on News Night the start of the greatest era for this nightly news broadcast yet? 

Together Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti makes News Night simply ooze sexy news appeal. They're television news stars in primetime in their prime; they're pulling the wagon together like workhorses who don't need to be told what to do - and they're very clearly and visibly having a lot of fun doing it. 

You simply want to watch News Night now - with sly grins Jeremy Maggs and Iman Rappetti know they're doing the very best appointment television news bulletin in South Africa. 

Having the luxury of two hours, the scope to do in-studio interviews and the resources to cover breaking news instantly incorporated into the show as well as perspective and analysis, News Night is a veritable tour-de-force of TV news coverage - strikingly well-done. If News Night isn't on you're PVR you're not getting the day's best TV news in South Africa.

Bhavna Singh the new permanent co-anchor for News Day on the eNews Channel with Andrew Barnes.

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Bhavna Singh is the new permanent co-anchor with Andrew Barnes of the weekday afternoon news show News Day on the eNews Channel (DStv 403).

Bhavna Singh is the permanent replacement for Scheherazade Safla who left the eNews Channel at the end of 2011. Before Scheherazade Safla, Andrew Barnes was paired with Robyn Smith.

News Day had a revolving door of substitute anchors since Andrew Barnes went on leave earlier this year, which will now once again settle with Andrew Barnes and Bhavna Singh on afternoons between 13:00 and 16:00.

News Day on the eNews Channel gets a revolving door of fill-in anchors as Andrew Barnes goes on leave.

With News Day main anchor Andrew Barnes on leave at the eNews Channel (DStv 403), the mid day news show is seemingly making do with a revolving door of stand-in anchors.

I asked last month several times what will be happening to News Day when Andrew Barnes goes on holiday; the news channel is yet to respond (I just asked again).

e.tv's eNews Prime Time anchor Amy Brooke was in on Friday for News Day, and Bhavna Singh was sitting in yesterday and today for the show between 13:00 and 16:00.

The eNews Channel to advertise for a new co-anchor for its afternoon show News Day as Andrew Barnes goes solo behind the anchor desk for now.

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The eNews Channel (DStv 403) will soon be advertising for a brand-new news co-anchor for Andrew Barnes and News Day.

Meanwhile the South African 24 hour news channel's afternoon news show will be solo-anchored by Andrew Barnes on weekdays for the time being.

Andrew Barnes is solo-anchoring until a suitable replacement is found since co-anchor Scheherazade Safla left for Doha at the end of 2011 - news TV with Thinus broke RIGHT HERE at the beginning of December.

The veteran Andrew Barnes is however well-versed in anchoring News Day alone, the first hour of which is shown on e.tv on weekdays. News Day is produced and anchored from e.tv's Longkloof Studios in Cape Town.

Andrew Barnes' new co-anchor will be his third in just over a year after Robyn Smith left a year ago in January 2011 and Scheherazade Safla recent departure at the end of 2011.

The eNews Channel has no replacement yet but is definitely looking to reteam Andrew Barnes with a new face soon. ''No replacement has yet been found but we will be advertising for the position in the next few weeks,'' Ben Said, the eNews group news editor tells TV with Thinus. ''In the interim Andrew Barnes will anchor News Day alone.''

ON SET EXCLUSIVE. A news day behind the scenes at News Day with the eNews Channel's Andrew Barnes and Scheherazade Safla.

News Day on the eNews Channel (DStv 403) brings a credible touch of class to television news during weekday afternoons – and not just because senior anchor Andrew Barnes holds a silver tip fountain pen between his thumb and index finger while he deftly co-anchors the quality afternoon broadcast with Scheherazade Safla.

The superb News Day (weekdays between 13:00 and 16:00 on the eNews Channel, DStv 403; weekdays 13:00 to 13:30 on e.tv) with executive producer Sabiya Parkar is an informative, incisive and dynamic show – by all accounts the best afternoon news programme in South Africa. News Day with Andrew Barnes, joined by Scheherazade Safla since January when she replaced Robyn Smith, is a terrific oasis of the latest breaking news and analysis, sports news, weather and business news. The show speaks intelligently, and in style, to viewers in a usually discarded day part where the biggest rival broadcasters feed South African viewers a diet of American talk shows and soaps.

News Day, originating from Studio 201 at e.tv's Longkloof Studios in Cape Town is a wonderful example of what's actually possible for television news during the day when a production team – well-versed in news production behind the scenes – coupled with a dynamic and telegenic anchor-duo who works great together, decides to speaks up, instead of down, to viewers.

Behind the blue and white set with a glimmer of red inside Studio 201 Andrew Barnes and Scheherazade Safla don't just read the news – they actually read it. During breaks when the next stack of scripts and notes are quickly sent to the desk, they make lightning fast changes. Adjust. Read up. And yes, check Twitter and Facebook. There's also fast bathroom breaks. ''We refer to this as the pee sweep,'' laughs Scheherazade Safla, her laugh trailing behind her down the corridor at 14:25 as she quickly whisks out when nature calls.

A constant conversation is going on not just between the two of them, but also with the control room. With a flowing rhythm as every-changing as the new day's headlines, it's palpable that the News Day team is resolute in their consistent approach to not just report the news but also advance the news agenda. The News Day studio is filled with talk of breaking news stories, backlinks, sound checks and a dizzy array of production hand signals – a secret ''love'' code between the Type A co-anchors and the control room trying to create the best news show possible.

Knowing smiles betray a hint of the trust that can only come over time and is built out of the shared endeavour of anchoring a live TV news show together. At News Day the smiles are really real. Part of the interplay between Andrew Barnes and Scheherazade Safla behind the scenes are hilarious, with precious banter during ad breaks. ''I'll tweet while you touch up,'' Andrew Barnes remarks mock-dryly to ''Shez'' as the production staff refers to her. And he often calls her ''wife''. Doing a daily live show such as News Day out of the mad cacophony of things to know, is somewhat of a marriage of madness anyway.
''Script? … No script,'' deadpans Scheherazade Safla seconds before the red light on one of the three studio cameras come on. Then, live and immaculate, she steals some lines meant for her co-host as she brings another story to afternoon viewers.

''Minus 5 house points,'' remarks Andrew Barnes in the studio while the video feed of the news story plays out. What after all is a news day at News Day without some good-natured line-envy rivalry. ''I'll just go home and you can do the whole thing,'' he jokes with a mock getting-up-out-of-his-chair movement. The Schez gently appeases, as she pulls him back down. ''Okay, okay. You can do the next one.'' Then she tilts her head to the side, opens her eyes wider and whispers as she smiles. ''Make sure that you write that I love him.''

It's what happens during one of the breaks when Andrew Barnes gets linked-up with a reporter on the Swaziland border that's a tell-tale sign behind the scenes of exactly why News Day is the best place for daytime TV news in South Africa – it truly tries to take the day's breaking news and provide a sense of real understanding. ''Okay Cathy,'' says Andrew Barnes as that silver fountain pen scribbles some more before camera two's red light comes on. ''Stay on the line. We'll come to you shortly right after the break and try to make sense of this all.''

News Day, weekdays, eNews Channel (DStv 403), 13:00 – 16:00