Tanya Nefdt exits eNCA, joins Eclipse Communications PR agency.

by Thinus Ferreira

After 16 years the veteran South African TV reporter Tanya Nefdt has left eNCA (DStv 403) and has joined the Eclipse Communications public relations and communications agency.

Tanya Nefdt is part of an ongoing string of exits at eMedia's TV news channel.

eNCA is seeing an unrelenting loss of highly-experienced talent working on-screen and behind-the-scenes, with eMedia that gutted the Cape Town operations of its etv News division and with Jody Jacobs who just left as eNCA broadcast manager, eNCA anchor Shahan Ramkissoon who left at the end of May, and Lukhanyo Calata who just joined Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) as its political editor.

These reporters are just some of the high-profile names who are gone from eNCA and etv News within the past few months after years of working there, with many more rank-and-file staffers as well as managers who have either been retrenched or decided to leave just the past few years, from what they have described as a toxic and mismanagement work environment.

The bubbly and empathetic Tanya Nefdt, who started out as a weather presenter and switched to lifestyle and entertainment reporting as well as doing profile stories, is known for her stellar work over decades putting a human face on people involved with interesting things and achievements, interviewing celebrities within the fame-sphere and entertainment biz, as well as the down-trodden experiencing difficult circumstances and setbacks.

Besides her reporting work seen on eNCA and etv News, Tanya Nefdt also appeared on, and did voice-overs for eNuus, eNCA's nightly Afrikaans TV news bulletin produced for M-Net's kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) pay-TV channel's on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Tanya Nefdt also produced and presented The Spotlight on eNCA in 2018 as the channel's attempt of establishing a weekly lifestyle and entertainment news magazine show.

Tanya Nefdt has now joining the PR firm Eclipse Communications as head of online news, with Eclipse which is the public relations agency for Netflix in South Africa, as well as NBCUniversal's pay-TV channels seen on DStv like E!, Studio Universal, Universal TV and others.

Eclipse Communications is the same company that Shahan Ramkissoon joined following his eNCA exit.

In a statement, Tanya Nefdt says "I'm super excited to align myself with such a winning company and with so many leading brands".

"I will always be grateful to Debora Patta who believed in me and got me into broadcast news. I was a weather anchor at the time, a rough diamond with no experience and Debora polished me up and taught me how to be bold and not allow anyone to drag me down."

Jacki McEwen-Powell, Eclipse Communications founding partner, says Tanya Nefdt's "deep understanding of the news and how news is consumed will add immense value to our market offering. We are very excited that she chose to join us and add her immense talent and personality to an already impressive group of people within our business".

First episode of e.tv's new showbiz magazine show, The Spotlight, will see Tanya Nefdt go yachting with Irish band The Script; as well as reporting on Kanye West, Akhumzi Jezile's death, and Black Coffee's controversial Israel tour.

The first episode of e.tv's new weekly showbiz magazine show, The Spotlight, will report on Kanye West's latest slavery remarks, the death of TV presenter Akhumzi Jezile and feature an interview with the Irish band The Script.

e.tv this week announced that it has given the eNews and eNCA reporter Tanya Nefdt her own weekly show, The Spotlight, that will be broadcast on eNCA, e.tv as well as the eBella channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform and Platco Digital's OpenView HD free-to-air satellite TV service.

The Spotlight's first episode will talk about Kanye West’s Twitter storm over his comments on slavery, Black Coffee bounces back from his controversial Israel tour and look at how South Africa is mourning the death of actor and TV presenter Akhumzi Jezile, the former Joyous Celebration singer Siyasanga Kobese and actor Thobani Mseleni. 

The show will also speak to fans about the recent Chance The Rapper concert in South Africa

In an exclusive TV interview, Tanya Nefdt also speaks to the award-winning Irish band The Script. She went yachting with the rockers in Cape Town, and in light of South Africa's recent Freedom Day celebrations, asked them what lies behind the title of their latest album, Freedom Child.

The Spotlight will also include a look at the latest movie releases including Walt Disney's A Wrinkle In Time with Oprah Winfrey, the romantic teen fantasy drama Every Day and the comedy I Feel Pretty with Naomi Campbell and Amy Schumer.

e.tv gives reporter Tanya Nefdt her own weekly showbiz TV show; The Spotlight from 5 May on eNCA, e.tv and eBella will cover the arts and entertainment industry.

e.tv is giving reporter Tanya Nefdt her own TV show with The Spotlight that will cover arts and entertainment on a weekly basis from 5 May.

It's the red letter channel's first foray back into a dedicated entertainment news strand since the end of Nicky Greenwall's longrunning The Showbiz Report.

With hundreds of human interest and personality profile stories over the years, and a dedicated slot reporting on film and showbiz on eNCA on weekends since mid-2017, the hard-working Tanya Nefdt carved out a niche speciality area for herself with e.tv that is finally giving her a showbiz show.

The Spotlight will focus on the movie, TV, theatre and arts spheres in South Africa as well as internationally, with a round-up of weekly showbiz news and interviews with on-air, on-stage and on-screen talent, as well as some of the movers and shakers behind the scenes of the local industrial entertainment complex.

Tanya Nefdt will interview rising stars and profile established players, and will talk about major topics bubbling up within the showbiz world.

"The Spotlight’s got glamour, glitter and maybe just a bit of gossip, but importantly it will have grit as well," says Tanya Nefdt. "The arts industry is facing many challenges so we open these discussions with our viewers who we want to engage with."

The Spotlight will debut on eNCA (DStv 403) on 5 May on a weekly basis, and will thereafter also be broadcast on e.tv as well as on the eBella channel on OpenView HD (OVHD) and DStv.

BREAKING. eNCA shutting down its Beijing bureau; shunting longtime Asia correspondent John Bailey back to Johannesburg.

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I can report that eNCA (DStv 403) is shutting down its Beijing news bureau and shunting its longtime Asia correspondent John Bailey back to Johannesburg.

The shocking Beijing closure forms part of the South African 24-hour TV news channel's ongoing and dramatic international retraction of reporters who were stationed on the ground outside of South Africa's borders.

The baffling Beijing closure ties in to the ongoing and painful shuttering of the Sabido-owned news outfit's offices and news bureaux across the African continent, with the dramatic downsizing which has resulted in retrenchments since April and saw correspondents and on-air talent leave.

While eNCA warned in March that it is leaving Africa because that part of its news service has become unsustainable and that it will cover the rest of the continent with wire news and freelance reporters where big stories warrant it, nothing was said about its other news bureaux like London and Beijing - where the axe is now coming down.

eNCA insiders are scared and upset about the moves caused by budget constraints and fear the "dumbing-down" of the South African 24-hour TV news channel provided to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform and which will celebrate its 7th anniversary next month since it launched in June 2008.

While eNCA's China bureau chief John Bailey is for instance forced to return home, insiders point to eNCA apparently working on a new showbiz programme to be introduced soon to try and lift ratings, presented by Tanya Nefdt and Amy MacIver with Sally Burdett as producer. eNCA has not yet responded to a media enquiry asking about this development.

South African TV news channel rivals already pad their schedules with entertainment shows like ANN7 (DStv 405) with Star Biz and Sizzle and SABC News (DStv 404) with Afro Showbiz News.

In response to a media enquiry eNCA confirms its shutting down its Beijing bureau, saying John Bailey will be returning to South Africa and continue working for eNCA in the Johannesburg office.

"The closing of the Beijing bureau formed part of the reationalisation of the Africa division and will close at the end of June. eNCA will continue to cover China and the region through freelance reporters in the area," says eNCA.

eNCA reporter Tanya Nefdt in Brazil for 2014 FIFA World Cup, 'focusing on the people, culture and build-up' for Brazil Uncovered inserts.

eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Tanya Nefdt is now in Brazil reporting for a new eNCA strand, Brazil Uncovered with news segments focusing "on the people, culture and build-up" to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

TV with Thinus reported last month that Brazil Uncovered is coming in June.

Tanya Nefdt left South Africa on 30 May to São Paulo and will be there for 4 days before heading to Bahia Salvador for another 3 days (4 - 7 June).

The last stop for Brazil Uncovered will be Rio de Janeiro where the majority of stories will be produced from, during 7 to 15 June. Tanya Nefdt and team will head back to South Africa on 16 June.

"We will be there for just over two weeks," Tanya Nefdt tells TV with Thinus. "It will be fresh packages as we uncovered them".

The various Brazil Uncovered stories, 2 to 3 minutes in length, are running throughout the day on eNCA like normal daily news inserts.

"We will be focusing more on the people, culture and build-up to the 2014 World Cup. Not games specifically but more the spirit around it, similar to what we covered during our 2010 World Cup," says Tanya Nefdt.

eNCA reporter Tanya Nefdt going to Brazil for new programming strand, Brazil Uncovered, starting on eNCA from 1 June.

Not a word from e.tv and eNCA (DStv 403) to the South African press or TV critics about it, but reporter Tanya Nefdt will be travelling to Brazil to cover the 2014 FIFA World Cup with human interest stories from June.

Reporter Tanya Nefdt will present a new strand, Brazil Uncovered, from 1 June on eNCA as she looks for stories about the places and people in the flamboyant country which plays host for the international soccer tournament.

There's no word from e.tv and eNCA on what time(s) and day(s) of the week Brazil Uncovered will be shown or inserted, how many segments there will be during the course of June or what exactly Tanya Nefdt will be doing, but she will be covering the "sights and sounds" of the country.

eNCA's Tanya Nefdt bikinitize as she reports from underwater, interviewing speedo-clad lads hoping to swim and break a world record.

The eNCA's (DStv 403) intrepid social interest ingénue Tanya Nefdt brilliantly bikinitized on Thursday as she interviewed two speedo-clad lads and even reported from underwater with subtitles.

Tanya Nefdt's story worked great (just like fellow eNCA'er Yusuf Omar when he ran in a speedo) because she was really immersing herself (no pun intended) in the story.

Tanya Nefdt's take brings an interesting dynamic and angle to her report without making it feel forced - which eNCA'er Phakamile Hlubi did exactly a year ago when she exploitatively draped that yellow snake around her.

Besides interviewing swimmers and friends Thane Williams and Jonno Proudfoot in their speedos poolside in Sea Point, Cape Town, Tanya Nefdt (bravely) actually got into the swimming pool as well.

The two are trying to swim the world's longest open ocean unassisted stage swim in March from Mozambique to Madagascar in under 35 days. They want to raise money for operations for cleft palate children.

Tanya Nefdt cleverly did the final sentence and closer for her filed story from underwater in the pool. It was obviously not audible - but she therefore added on-screen subtitles.

PUBLICITÉ. eNCA and e.tv stars come out for a stylish 5 star press dinner at The Shimmy Club in Cape Town on Friday night.

The casts of e.tv's soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! who jetted into Cape Town for a three day marketing meet-and-greet with fans, sat down with the press for a 5 star dinner on Friday night at the new The Shimmy Beach Club.

Several TV newsers from e.tv's 24-hour news channel, eNCA (DStv 403) were in attendance as well.

I spotted and talked to the always-delightful eNCA tele-nalities like weather guy Derek van Dam (just back from a holiday to India), and reporters Tanya Nedft and Leigh-Ann Jansen.

Pam Andrews didn't bite anyone and community newspaper journalists listened inquisitively to Clint Brink talking about his character's bad boy image while much better than usual red wine for this type of shindig flowed.

The elegant e.tv dinner lasted until midnight when the e.tv faces all went outside to the beach and took a big group photo with the press.

Tanya Nefdt now travelling across South Africa as the eNCA's human interest stories reporter criss-cross the country.

You're reading it here first. 

Tanya Nefdt is now travelling - and looking for crazy, quirky, silly, awe-inspiring, amazing and downright weird stories throughout South Africa.

There has not been as much as a word from e.tv's publicity department (all probably munching away at their Cadbury Lunch Bars at the SA's Got Talent recordings in Johannesburg), but word on the street is that Tanya Nefdt is now looking to travel across South Africa and for TV viewers to let her know about outrageous, silly and simply amazing stories for which she will come right to your door.

The Cape Town based Tanya Nefdt is eNews' and South Africa's roving reporter for the wild and the wonderful, and excels at human interest and travel stories. Now she's branching out.

People with weird, wacky, wonderful, outrageous and extraordinary stories, irrespective of where they are in South Africa, can send her an email at info@enca.com and tell her about it.

WHEN TANYA MET TARZAN: Tanya Nefdt of the eNews Channel finds something really big in the forest.

Every major TV news conglom needs a Tally Atwater like in the movie Up, Close & Personal. Someone with heart to remind TV viewers that there's more than war in Afghanistan, destitute people doing drugs, and Soweto orphans (unless its about hugs for those orphans of course).

South Africa's Tally is definitely Tanya - Tanya Nefdt of the eNews Channel (DStv 403) who today met Tarzan.

And where Tanya goes, there goes a happy time of one or two minutes of  television news that's a welcome upbeat tonic in an ocean of otherwise mostly dreary and terrible TV tales.

Whether covering Christmas trees that's recycleable, interviewing a female car mechanic, or hanging out at social events for the entertainment scoop, Tanya Nefdt is adept at covering the lifestyle and more lighter stories, just like Tally. If CNN has the quirky and offeat Jeanne Moos, the eNews Channel has the rinky-dink awesome Tanya Nefdt.

Always tilting her head ever so slighty to her right hand side like a happy hamster that first wants to ascertain a certain sound that it heard a little bit better, Tanya Nefdt then pirouettes and zooms in on her subject to bring a truly heartwarming story to the nation. And as viewers we are grateful. Really.

Today, lost in the jungle (okay, it was foresty George which is 4 hours' drive outside of Cape Town - but what real dedication) the delightful Tanya Nefdt found herself literally face to face with an almost-orange urang-utang half-naked man who has dreams of become a Hollywood star.

He's jobless, of course. Only wears a loin cloth and has big, uhm, dreams. And, as she wanted to show later in her story, there's also something really big between his legs. All of it is of course Tanya's speciality who excels at profile pieces in under 3 minutes of screen time. Try doing that Oprah Winfrey!

A very surprised Tanya Nefdt found Tarzan (or the former security guard De Wet Du Toit) in the woods and was willing to let him grab her hand. She also put thought into it since she clearly dressed for the occasion. Green for green. Because this is a real forest people. Nothing is shot against green screen.

Then, after some lingering shots of the physique of the man flesh she travelled 4 hours to find (because its important to show the viewer everything you get - TV is a visual medium after all), Tanya Nefdt got on top behind her Tarzan and rode off on an elephant and into the sunset. A happy Tanya Nefdt got her package. Until tomorrow.

The end-run story or happy news package is often unappreciated, disregarded as fluff, and discarded by serious news organizations. But it's actually a pleasant respite from the rolling doom-and-gloom and often distressing hard news coverage of 24 hour information operations such as the eNews Channel.

The slighty ditzy, very-bubbly Tanya Nefdt and her always-interesting, although breezier, stories reminds the TV news viewer that there's more to life and news than just things that went wrong. There's Christmas trees made from old carton boxes, female car mechanics who dream of becoming engineers, and Tarzans with big dreams who are willing to swing in to your rescue.