SABC News TV channel adjusts schedule with serial channel hopper Thembekile Mrototo co-anchoring The Full View prime time

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC News (DStv 404) TV news channel adjusted its schedule from 1 April 2025 with channel hopper anchor Thembekile Mrototo now once again back at the public broadcaster to co-anchor The Full View prime-time block between 18:00 and 21:00.

On 1 April, and asked again after that, the SABC was asked in a media query about the SABC News changes for information about the channel's line-up changes. No information on anything from SABC News as a TV channel was forthcoming a week later when this report was published.

On Sundays, Thulasizwe Simelane anchors The Week Ahead on SABC News between 12:00 and 15:00. He is also the face of Week in Review on Saturdays between 12:00 and 15:00.

Morning Live, simulcast on SABC2 and SABC News, remains on weekdays between 6:00 and 9:00, co-anchored by Leanne Manas and Sakina Kamwendo.

Ayanda Nyathi anchors The Agenda block between 9:00 and 12:00 on weekdays.

After the implosion of Paula Slier and Trevor Bester's Newshound company that did the short-lived News1 streaming channel for Sentech's Freevision Play and had plans to also do a Brics Global TV News (BGTN), Juliet Newell who was an anchor there, is now on SABC News anchoring On Point on weekdays between 12:00 and 15:00.

Unathi Batyashe anchors the SA Today block on SABC News between 15:00 and 18:00.

The Full View block between 18:00 and 19:00 is now co-anchored by Bongiwe Zwane and the serial channel hopper Thembekile Mrototo who keeps revolving, leaving and returning between eNCA (DStv 403), SABC News, Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) and who is now once again back at SABC News for another stint.

Clement Manyathela anchors Face the Nation on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 20:00 and 21:00.

Mfundo Mabalane and Mpho Sithole are the co-anchors of The Late Edition block on weekdays on SABC News between 21:00 and 23:00.

The SABC3 English TV news bulletin, Prime News at 20:00, is suddenly co-anchored by Becky Motumo and Paulette Kaise. There's been no information to the media about this from the SABC or SABC3.

Cathy Mohlahlana and Thembekile Mrototo to co-anchor Newzroom Afrika prime time from June as news channel adds Saturday night documentary slot.

by Thinus Ferreira

Cathy Mohlahlana and Thembekile Mrototo will start to co-anchor during prime time on Newzroom Africa (DStv 405) from June when she returns from maternity leave, while the South African TV news channel will also add a new documentary hour slot on Saturdays at 19:00.

From June when Cathy Mohlahlana returns, she will resume her co-anchoring role of The Pulse with Stephen Grootes in the 17:00 to 18:00 timeslot on Newzroom Afrika.

Cathy Mohlahlana will then remain on-air to now join Thembekile Mrototo in the 18:00 to 20:00 timeslot from June as co-anchors.

When Cathy Mohlahlana signs off at 20:00, Thembekile Mrototo will continue to anchor solo in the 20:00 to 21:00 timeslot, after which Thabo Mdluli will take over as sole anchor of In Focus until midnight.

Newzroom Afrika also plans to introduce a new Saturday evening documentary slot at 19:00 which will be an hour, and which will get a repeat on Sundays at 10:00.

"These changes reflect the continued evolution of Newzroom Afrika to grow with viewers, remain fresh and always a step ahead," says Newzroom Afrika CEO Thabile Ngwato in a statement.

"Building on the enthusiasm shown for our new Nguni news service on Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163), Newzroom Afrika is innovating and developing as we mark four phenomenal years since launch."

Newzroom Afrika rival eNCA (DStv 403) has just started to stay in live news until midnight from May instead of switching to repeats at 22:00, in the Hyde Park based channel's latest schedule and programming changes.