Why Heindrich Wyngaard as Kaapse Forum chairperson remains the host of KLOP! on kykNET.

by Thinus Ferreira

The presenter and socio-political commentator Heindrich Wyngaard who is now the chairperson of the lobby group Cape Forum is no longer a host of KN Verslag since the start of April but remains the host of KLOP! on television because kykNET says KLOP! is an a-political talk show.

There's been growing questions around a perceived conflict of interest as Heindrich Wyngaard continues to be the presenter of a weekly TV programme on DStv, whilst serving as the chairperson of the new lobby group started with the help of the AfriForum lobby group.

Cape Forum in a statement said that the lobby group "will focus, among other things, on promoting community self-reliance in Cape communities and helping to establish growing federalism in the Western Cape and Cape communities".

"Tax federalism where taxpayers money is largely used locally, will form a core part of the Cape Forum's action plan."

Heindrich Wyngaard told CapeTalk in a radio interview that the Cape civil society organisation "is not a coloured AfriForum" and that while the lobby group has AfriForum's backing, Cape Forum (Kaapse Forum in Afrikaans) doesn't have the same ideology or agenda.

While Heindrich Wyngaard stepped away as an anchor of the news and actuality show KN Verslag on the kykNET (DStv 144) channel, he remains the host of the KLOP! talk show on the kykNET&kie (DStv 145) channel, with both shows produced by Idea Candy. 

This has left a growing number of kykNET & Kie viewers wondering whether Heindrich Wyngaard is representing or asking questions on behalf of the Cape Forum.

"KLOP! is an a-political talk show that focuses on personalities and various topics that are serious and light-hearted. KN Verslag is a current affairs show with more of a political focus," Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director for kykNET channels, tells TVwithThinus.

"When Heindrich made kykNET and Idea Candy, the production company, aware he will be joining Kaapse Forum, the three parties agreed it would be best to release him from KN Verslag in order to minimise the risk of a perceived conflict of interest."

Asked how kykNET viewers are supposed to know that Heindrich Wyngaard is not representing or asking questions on behalf of Cape Forum during KLOP!-episodes, Waldimar Pelser says "When presenting KLOP!, Heindrich's obligation is to serve the viewers of kykNET&kie in a professional manner. This is an obligation to which all our presenters are held".

kykNET says it believes in editorial independence and that Heindrich Wyngaard's obligation is to serve the viewers of kykNET&kie in a professional manner.

ALSO READ: Heindrich Wyngaard exits KN Verslag on kykNET to head up new political pressure group, will continue to host talk show KLOP! on kykNET & Kie.

Heindrich Wyngaard exits KN Verslag on kykNET to head up new political pressure group, will continue to host talk show KLOP! on kykNET & Kie.

by Thinus Ferreira

Heindrich Wyngaard has exited as anchor of the current affairs show KN Verslag on kykNET (DStv 144) to become chairperson of the new political public pressure group Kaapse Forum in Cape Town, although he will remain the host of the kykNET Afrikaans talk show KLOP! on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145). 

Suzaan Keyter, kykNET spokesperson, told TVwithThinus in response to a media query that Heindrich Wyngaard has finished as a KN Verslag anchor but that KLOP! continues with Heindrich Wyngaard as presenter.

kykNET didn't explain why Heindrich Wyngaard is exiting as anchor of KN Verslag but how and why it's possible for him to remain an anchor of another TV show while he is chairperson of Kaapse Forum.

Suzaan Steyn continues as anchor of KN Verslag, produced by IdeaCandy, with KN Verslag that experienced a dramatic and fast turn-over of anchors in 2022 so far.

kykNET plans to end KN Verslag in mid-2022 and wants to change the channel's actuality offering this year.

KN Verslag in Gesprek met Waldimar Pelser was renamed to In Gesprek met Waldimar Pelser, after which Waldimar Pelser was appointed as the new kykNET boss.

The show then rebranded to In Gesprek met Lourensa Eckhard who moved from KN Verslag to fill Waldimar Pelser's chair on Thursday nights.

Suzaan Steyn was then added to fill Lourensa Eckhard's spot, with Suzaan Steyn and Heindrich Wyngaard alternating as KN Verslag anchors. Heindrich Wyngaard's exit leaves just Suzaan Steyn.

kykNET cancels KN Verslag as it looks to change the channel's actuality programming offering in 2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

kykNET has cancelled its KN Verslag weeknight actuality strand with M-Net's Afrikaans channels division that plans to make changes to its news actuality offering from June.

The recently renamed actuality talk show In Gesprek met Lourensa Eckard that was part of the KN Verslag offering from the same IdeaCandy production company will remain on the kykNET (DStv 144) schedule, as will Prontuit, but both shows will be moving to different timeslots.

The KN Verslag anchors Heindrich Wyngaard en Suzaan Steyn who are also the anchors of KLOP! on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) and Spreekkamer on kykNET, will continue to anchor those two shows.

"kykNET is planning changes to our schedule that includes the renewing of our actuality offering," says Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director for kykNET channels in response to a media query.

"The programme KN Verslag presented by Heindrich Wyngaard and Suzaan Steyn will be on-air until June 2022 on kykNET on channel 144, a business decision of which the production team was recently notified.

"Both Heindrich and Suzaan will still be seen in respectively KLOP! on kykNET & kie and Spreekkamer on kykNET. Prontuit and In Gesprek met Lourensa Eckard will remain on air but will move to better timeslots later this year, which will be announced later," Waldimar Pelser said.