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.''

BREAKING. SABC1 channel head Ray Nkwe is getting the boot and shown the door by the public broadcaster.

In a shocking ouster SABC1 channel head Ray Nkwe is getting the boot, with the South African public broadcaster firing the general manager of South Africa's biggest TV channel.

Numerous insider sources are telling me that the SABC is planning to get rid of all channel heads to possibly be replaced by just one executive that will be overseeing SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3. As yet, I haven't heard of any ''you're fired'' letters being given to SABC2 channel head Bessie Tugwane or SABC3 channel head Mate Mosito-Okaba.

Ray Nkwe however has been advised by letter that his services as channel head of SABC1 will no longer be needed as the SABC's acting group CEO Robin Nicholson is going on a major firing spree to rid the broadcaster of top structure managers. The longtime Ray Nkwe being shown the door as SABC1 channel head is set to send shockwaves through the TV industry in the week to come. I have asked Ray Nkwe and SABC1 for comment about his coming retrenchment and I'm waiting for a response.

Ray Nkwe presided over the attempt to improve the SABC1 primetime line-up this past August branded as ''Mzansi Fo Sho Reloaded'' with mixed success. Under Ray Nkwe's tenure as chanel head SABC1 embarked on a push to more low quality glam entertainment magazine shows, titilating trash like Intersexions and banal reality shows like Dance Your Butt Off and the advertiser-funded Class Act that's not really in line with the SABC's supposed ethos of being a public broadcaster. And then there's Relentless - a new ''R10 million'' reality show that SABC1 is supposedly working on. The disastrous 1st Annual Stars of Mzansi Awards in 2008, the public broadcaster's attempt to create an award show if its own, also happened under Ray Nkwe's watch and never went beyond ''1st annual''.

BREAKING. SABC1 retooling its 18:30 weekday slot with a new show, Mzansi Insider, and tweaking current shows.

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SABC1 is retooling the broadcaster's 18:30 timeslot from Mondays to Saturdays by adding a new show soon called Mzansi Insider and tweaking the exciting shows in that timeslot that will be rebranded as Mzansi Fo Sho Reloaded.

''The improvement of the schedule is aimed at strengthening our historic bond with our television audiences and ensuring that the brand is taken back to the public in a fresh and more exciting way,'' says Ray Nkwe, SABC1 channel head. ''We're very excited about the launch of SABC1's Mzansi Fo Sho Reloaded,'' he says, promising ''some controversial titles to close the exciting and historic year of 2010 on a high note.''

Mzansi Insider - a new youth entertainment show on SABC1 - will debut on Monday, September 6 at 18:30, followed on Tuesdays by the second season of Rise Mzansi which is retained in the timeslot. Selimathunzi will move to Wednesdays at 18:30 from September 1 and a tweaked Ses'khona will remain on Thursdays at 18:30. Jam Alley remains on Fridays at 18:30 with So You Think You Can Dance currently on on Saturdays.

BREAKING. SABC1 channel head, Ray Nkwe, replaces Gab Mampone.

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I can tell you first that SABC1 channel head, Ray Nkwe will be replacing Gab Mampone.

After the sudden suspension earlier today of Gab Mampone as group executive: commercial enterprises at the SABC, it will be Ray Nkwe who will be stepping in on Monday to replace him.

Ray Nkwe was the acting group executive for this division within the SABC for the time that Gab Mampone was acting group CEO of the SABC. Ray Nkwe and Gab Mampone both went back to their ''original'' jobs at the end of last year when Solly Mokoetle became the new permament group CEO of the SABC.