eNCA and e.tv's current affairs programme, Checkpoint, nominated for 2 awards for 2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards; nominations affirm the team's work says executive producer.

The weekly current affair programme Checkpoint on eNCA (DStv 403) and broadcast on e.tv has been nominated for two awards in the Best current affairs programme category for 2019's upcoming 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) with the show's executive producer saying the nominations affirm the work done by the team.

2019's Saftas are set to take place on 2 March at Sun City.

Checkpoint that started in April 2014 was nominated for the insert "Isikebhe" and "Dr Sello of Ikageng".

"IsiKebhe" investigated an anti-stock theft organisation that had gone rogue and that had become a feared vigilante group, doling out brutal community punishment in rural parts of the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The "Dr Sello of Ikageng" insert uncovered horrific abuses at the hands of a medical practitioner near Potchefstroom.

"We don't do our work for awards but being acknowledged by the industry always highlights the dedication of the Checkpoint team," says Nkepile Mabuse, Checkpoint executive producer.

"It is most gratifying when those who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes also get to bask in the glory of achievement.

New episodes of Checkpoint are broadcast on Tuesdays on eNCA at 20:30 with repeats on Sundays at 19:00.

eNCA changes its weekend programming line-up again; Gareth Edwards, Faith Mangope return, Nhlanhla Sehume added.

eNCA (DStv 403) is once again changing its weekend line-up from 1 December and adding new faces after previously introduced weekend programming decisions slowly unraveled as presenters left and blocks failed to gain traction.

eNCA's latest weekend programming shuffle will see Nhlanhla Sehume join Morning News Today between 07:00 and 09:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, co-hosting with Duduzile Ramela.

Between 13:00 and 14:00 Marcelle Gordon will now anchor eNCA's Lunchtime slot over weekends.

Gareth Edwards who stepped away from eNCA anchoring and did stand-in blocks over the past few years is returning to eNCA on-air permanently and will anchor NewsNight from 17:00 to 20:00 on Saturdays and 17:00 to 19:00 on Sundays on eNCA.

He will co-anchor NewsNight with Faith Mangope who is popping up on eNCA after she did Sunrise until she and the show got dumped and replaced with The Morning Show earlier this year.

e.tv's investigative magazine show Checkpoint will broadcast on eNCA at 19:00 on Sundays going up against Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv 101), and the new satire puppet show, Almost News with Chester Missing will follow at 19:30 on Sundays.

About joining eNCA over weekends Nhlanhla Sehume who has done guest presenting on Carte Blanche, says "To be part of the new look programming is a great personal milestone. I am really excited about the challenge." 

Marcelle Gordon says "eNCA Lunchtime will keep you in the news loop on the weekends. It promises to be fast-paced, with lots of live news reportage".

Gareth Edwards says "eNCA has been my home for more than a decade. There was no doubt in my mind when I was asked to join our on-air division in a more permanent capacity again, that this was where I wanted to be".

Faith Mangope says "I am so excited to be joining the eNCA family for NewsNight weekends. Broadcasting and telling South Africa's stories, in particular, is a passion of mine. To do it alongside a talented and highly acclaimed team makes it that much more special".

Longtime TV producer Jessica Pitchford now managing editor for investigative magazine show Checkpoint on eNCA and e.tv.

Veteran South Africa TV producer Jessica Pitchford has joined the weekly investigate magazine show, Checkpoint, on eNCA (DStv 403) and e.tv.

Jessica Pitchford is now the managing editor of Checkpoint where Nkepile Mabuse is the executive producer and host.

Jessica Pitchford is most recognised for her work at, and most closely associated with, M-Net's Carte Blanche where she was most recently the managing editor as well for the past half a decade.

The award-winning TV and longtime producer was however for years a TV reporter for SABC News for news and current affairs and worked for SABC3's Special Assignment and others actuality shows.

Last year with Carte Blanche's 25th anniversary on M-Net, Jessica Pitchford authored the commemorative book Carte Blanche: The Stories Behind the Stories.