Big revamp for second season of Show Me Love starting 3 June on Moja Love; local talk show to broadcast live, add politics, with new location, new studio, new panellists and more daring content.

Show Me Love on Moja Love (DStv 157) is undergoing a revamp for its second season that is set to start on Monday 3 June, with the local talk show that is undergoing several changes including new faces, a new studio and new location, adding some political discussions and topics to the mix, and switching to a live broadcast format or recording episodes as close to the broadcast date as possible.

The Show Me Love hosts around the glass table recently changed, with Unathi Msengana and Abigail Visagie who are both gone without explanation.

They have been replaced by Ntsiki Mazwai as well as the doctor and sexual health expert Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (Dr T) who have joined Nontobeko Sibisi and KG Moeketsi who remain part of the panel.

"The most important thing as a whole production team was saying 'When do we need to go back to the drawing board? What do we need to fix? And in what way do we fix it in a way that it is still relevant and resonates with our audience?" said Nontobeko Sibisi.

Nontobeko Sibisi spoke at Moja Love's 2019 Content Showcase that was held for the media last week at the World of Yamaha Theatre in Sandton, Johannesburg where the new Show Me Love panellists formed part of the on-stage talent who appeared before the press.

"More importantly, in the second season of Show Me Love we will continue to have a real, authentic conversation," she said.

Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng said about Show Me Love "that we have to remind women about the power that they have and give them the space to own and accept that power".

"If you want to talk about sex - one of the episodes that we were shooting the other day, we were talking about self-pleasuring - giving South African women permission to say it's not only boys with the right to play with themselves. As a woman you can do that".

"I think that that's the beauty of Moja Love as a channel - we're having conversations that other people never had the courage to have, and we're opening it as wide as possible. We're daring, we're courageous but we're also fun."

TVwithThinus asked how the new season of Show Me Love will be different.

KG Moeketsi said "Obviously we're beginning a new season, come 3 June. The intention as we sit here now is to go live. Last year we were filming live-to-tape, but we would be airing about a week into the episodes that we shot."

"We want to stay as current as possible, that's why we want to go live - new location, new studio, new panellists, new everything and more daring content."

"The intention is for us to go live. If we're forced to be recorded - forced by circumstances to pre-record, it will probably be a case of  'record today, the episode airs tomorrow'. We want to get as close as possible - particularly this year - to the issues at hand in South Africa as they happen."

"Especially as far as politics are concerned, we are going to add a bit of that."

"South Africa is just a lovely place, and robust, if you're interested in the politics of the country. And it's exciting that Show Me Love will start going live just a week and a half after South Africa's new president has been inaugurated so we're excited, we're very excited," said KG Moeketsi.


ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 24 photos of Moja Love's 2019 Content Showcase.
ALSO READ: The Moja Love 2019 Content showcase sizzle reel.
ALSO READ: With daring, boundary-pushing reality shows, the Moja Love channel on DStv says it's aspiring "to innovate, to change and challenge the South African TV landscape". 
ALSO READ: New Moja Love conflict reality show exposing cheating lovers, Uyajola 9/9, is "not for the faint-hearted" warns presenter Jub Jub. 
ALSO READ: After delays, the reality show, Zodwa Wabantu Uncensored, is starting on Moja Love on Saturday 25 May as the Vosho Queen gives viewers a glimpse of her surreal life with a "16-ish" age restriction. 
ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. So, the Moja Love channel on DStv held a content showcase event and it was basically perfect - with 2 things that were a pleasant surprise and positives for SA's TV biz.
ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. For a channel with 'love' in its name, Moja Love's content is built on a collection of conflict. For how long will its viewers thirst to watch the fight?

14th season of Idols kicking off on Mzansi Magic set for bigger ratings, more votes – and very likely a dash of scandal.

The 14th season of the ever-popular reality singing competition, Idols, will kick off on Sunday 8 July at 17:00 on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) with the Idols Extra channel showing more content, that will start thereafter.

Idols - produced by [SIC] Entertainment with director and executive producer Gavin Wratten and Tebogo Thekiso (ProVerb) as co-executive producer who is also the host - remains a South African television ratings, social media engagement and online voting tour de force that saw more than 30 million votes cast during just the final week of the 13th season.

The new 14th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic will very likely once again up the ante in terms of ratings and voting numbers and serve up a controversy or two.

The 13th season finale saw the scandalous flame-out of Mthokozisi Ndaba from KwaMashu when the runner-up's dramatic fall from grace made sensational headlines and almost overshadowed the win of the Bishop Lavis teen, Paxton Fielies who is once of the local headline acts for the upcoming Mzansi for the Divas 2018 concert tour starting 27 July.

With the judges Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo and Unathi Msengana, the 14th season will kick off with the auditions that took place in KwaZulu-Natal at the North Beach Amphitheatre where the winner of the 9th season, Musa Sukwene, is also behind the desk as a guest judge.

The second episode will showcase the Cape Town auditions at Century City Conference Centre where DJ Cleo was the guest judge, followed by Pretoria in episode 3 where the musician Dr Malinga joined the judges.

The 4th episode will showcase the Johannesburg auditions where Rebecca Malope sat in as a guest judge.

M-Net is once again running the Idols Extra channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform with the channel that will go live on DStv channel 198 at 19:00 after the first episode of Idols on Mzansi Magic.

Idols Extra will show auditions from the past, wooden mic contenders, Golden Ticket winners and I was on Idols, including highlights of the show as well as contestant auditions that were not included in the Idols episodes shown on Mzansi Magic.

Siyaya TV's new Moja Love channel on DStv hopes to lure female viewers with love and relationship programming.

The new Moja Love channel aimed at a black female viewership is starting today, on Valentine's Day at 17:30 with little fanfare on MultiChoice's DStv on channel 157, hoping to make inroads in a highly competitive TV landscape where competitors like Lifetime and Discovery Networks' TLC already exist.

With the obligatory local telenovela - every channel now starts one of these serialised staples - and a flurry of talk show and self help programmes loosely modeled on popular American daytime TV formats, Moja Love, produced and packaged by Siyaya TV, will predominantly focus on women's issues and relationships.

"Moja" meaning good or alright, is packaged for MultiChoice by Siyaya TV that got a pay-TV licence from the broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) but failed to start it's own service, just like eSat that ended up producing eNCA for DStv.

Siyaya TV's Moja Love is made available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact and DStv Family subscribers and will run 24-hours per day with repeat blocks and have 22 shows including several new local productions.

New programmes will be broadcast between 17:00 and 22:30 daily on Moja Love with the rest of the late night and daytime schedule then consisting of repeats.

"For us at MultiChoice, it's important to offer our customers a range of different entertainment options and to provide a platform for local stories to be heard," says Yolisa Phahle, CEO for general entertainment at MultiChoice.

"Moja is a slang word that means 'everything is good' and while love is a universal emotion, Moja Love shall explore love from the unique perspective of the modern South African woman using honest, reflective, hopeful and humorous storytelling," says Jacqui Setai, Moja Love channel head.

New programmes on Moja Love include a new local weekday talk show, similar to The Real in America as a panel discussion show with women talking about female issues. Show Me Love will have KG Moeketsi, Unathi Msengana, Abigail Visagie and Nontobeko Sibisi as part of the panel.

Show Me Love that has been commissioned for 260 episodes will be broadcast on Moja Love on weekdays at 17:30 with a repeat on weekday mornings at 08:00.

"These dynamic hosts meet daily to schwashwata on every topic that concerns women at one time or another. With no topic off limits, the show provides a safe place for women to air any issue, in the company of their sistas," says Moja Love.

The local telenovela Hope with 208 episodes stars Nimrod Nkosi, as Pastor Buthelezi, a well-meaning pastor of a small congregation who is about to go through challenges when a new church opens up across the street. Hope will show on weekdays at 19:00.

"It sets in motion a story of love, deceit and betrayal, which unravels in the exciting world of

churches. As brother is pit against father, church members hide dark secrets, and pastors compete

for the soul of the community, take comfort that there is always hope in a dark world," says Moja Love.

Papgeld on Saturdays at 18:30 is an investigative reality show about children and will track fathers, and in some cases mothers, who are not living up to their parental responsibilities,

A spin-off show Let’s Talk Papgeld, Saturdays at 19:00 will try to help viewers with tips and guidelines from a range of experts and service providers in the social services and child maintenance sector.

Judge Khambule on Saturdays at 18:00 is a sitcom set in a courtroom that features characters caught up in various legal issues. Judge Khambule is played by Thenjiwe Mosley.

Other shows on Moja Love include Highly Inappropriate with Phat Joe, a reality beauty makeover show Beat, the sex advice show Thrills with Dr T, presented by sexologist Dr Tlaleng on Wednesdays at 21:00, and Sofa Slahlane, with the presenter and veteran journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika on Thursdays at 17:00.

Moja Love will also broadcast Sisters in Law, Food Police, Nairobi Diaries, Direct Flight, Amagugu, Curvy Girls and Nomakanji.

Toya Delazy will be the voice of the 4th Powerpuff Girl on Cartoon Network - but 'only' for South Africa and Africa and not the global voice of the character.

South African artist Toya Delazy will be the voice of the 4th Powerpuff Girl in Cartoon Network's reboot of the animation show - but only for South Africa and Africa and not the global voice of the character.

The "only" isn't a diss - it's still a big accomplishment for a South African and a South African artist, but it's not as big as Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network (DStv 301) wants people to believe.

Toya Delazy won't be the "global" voice of the character but one of a whopping 15 people who will voice the very same new character in various different and regionalised parts of the world.

Last week TVwithThinus scooped that Toya Delazy will be the voice of the new, 4th Powerpuff Girl in the new upcoming 5-episode story, The Powerpuff Girls: Power of Four.

Further examination however reveals that several countries across the Middle East, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and the Americas will all hear the 4th's puff in different voices.

What it means is that the United States, South American countries, and all the other Cartoon Network regionalised feeds in the world - except the channel feed for Africa - will not actually hear Toya Delazy's voice.

In response to a media enquiry asking whether Toya Delazy as the voice of the 4th Powerpuff Girl will be the voice of the new character globally or specifically for South Africa and Africa only, Cartoon Network said its correct that Toya will actually be starring as the voice for Africa only.

"Cartoon Network has joined forces with 15 super-powered celebrities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia who will each lend their voice to the newly revealed 4th Powerpuff Girl," the kids channel says.

"The first local celebrities to be named as the voice of this mysterious fourth Powerpuff Girl are South Africa's hip-hop sensation Toya Delazy, who will star as the character across Africa, and Australian YouTuber Wengie, who has voiced the character for Australia and New Zealand."

"This activation is the perfect way to continue building brand awareness and affinity, not only with girls and kids, but with millennial women and mums too," says Lesley Bailey, the vice president for channel marketing and brand management at Turner's kids division for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

"We're excited to be revealing the first in a long list of amazing and inspiring women to be taking on this kick-ass new role".

In 2016 Turner Africa's Cartoon Network collaborated with Toya Delazy to do a localised South African version of The Powerpuff Girls theme song for the launch of the reimagined new series.

In the new The Powerpuff Girls: Power of Four, the Powerpuffs' lives as superheroes are turned upside down and all 4 have to band together and use their strengths and smarts to save their city of Townsville from forces of evil.

How the new character looks will be revealed in the first episode of the 5-part special that will be starting this coming Sunday, 17 September, in America. South African and African viewers will have to wait a bit longer.

This type of voice-over regionalisation for kids animation content for Africa isn't new.

In 2002 The Walt Disney Company stripped in Idols winner and singer Heinz Winckler's "Chasing Shadows" song as the theme song for the South African cinema release of the Disney film Treasure Planet.

Disney similarly used the voice of the Idols judge Unathi Msengana in June 2014 for an episode of Rita the Cheetah in the second season of Doc McStuffins on Disney Junior (DStv 309) for its South African and Africa broadcast.

M-Net apologises for trans-shaming of Idols contestant on Mzansi Magic: 'Judges' dialogue was an attempt to understand the contestant's identity'.

M-Net is apologising to DStv subscribers for Idols' on-air transgender shaming that kicked off the latest episode of the reality singing competition on Mzansi Magic when the judges and presenter mocked a contestant and showed viewers how to make fun out of guessing what gender someone might be.

M-Net says it "apologises unreservedly for any offence the comments may have caused".

The pay-TV broadcaster's apology comes after the [SIC] Entertainment produced show of the FremantleMedia format that is currently in its 13th South African season, kicked off Sunday night's episode with an episode-opener audition by Arshen Madlopha (22).

In a body-wrapping purple dress and matching purple high heels, the contestant traveled all the way from the small timber producing town of Piet Retief in Mpumalanga to audition for the show.

Unlike The Voice South Africa on M-Net (DStv 101) where the coaches have their backs turned to singers and judge them only on their vocal abilities, in Idols where it's also only the singing that's supposed to matter, the judges often have fun by judging appearances.

It was Arshen Madlopha's second try at Idols, and judge Unathi Msengana primed DStv subscribers watching, by perusing her notes and saying "It doesn't say if Ashen is a lady or a guy".

That is when Sunday night's episode of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), executive produced by Gavin Wratten and ProVerb and covering the Johannesburg auditions, shocked viewers for how it trans-shamed contestant 11014.

"You're body is banging girl," judge Somizi Mhlongo, who happens to be gay, told Arshen Madlopha. "Walk like a lady."

Once the contestant had left the audition room, the whispering started.

"Is it a girl or boy?" asked a perplexed Idols guest judge Kelly Khumalo who was roped in to judge singing talent for the episode but who couldn't be bothered to ask the actual contestant directly.

"Boy," said Somizi.

"No, it's a girl," countered a surprised Unathi Msengana.

"It's a boy," said an adamant Randall Abrahams. "There was action," he said, motioning his Adam's apple. "I am confused, but it's such a beautiful boy though," said Kelly.

They all laughed heartily and fun was had by all speculating whether the contestant who sang Beyonce's "Halo" is really male or female.

Outside ProVerb, whose real name is Tebogo Thekisho and doubles as presenter, deadpanned by added another zinger: "Arshen had let both the ladies and the guys down."

It's not clear why Sphumelele Sibeko, M-Net's head of reality and entertainment and Reneilwe Sema, M-Net's director for local entertainment signed off on the trans-shaming content and okay-ed it for broadcast.

After [SIC] Entertainment producers failed to ask the contestant's gender and left it to the judges to speculate as a funny joke for Mzansi Magic viewers, Lindiwe Dlhamini, founder of Injabulo Anti-Bullying Project (IABP), called on Idols and the judges to apologise to Arshen Madlopha.

TVwithThinus asked M-Net what Mzansi Magic's view is when it comes to media shaming of transgender people and the bullying of people as it relates to gender and gender issues, and why people in power - supposed TV role models - are making fun by mining what gender someone belongs to for comedy.

Is this something Mzansi Magic endorses and why did Idols do this?

"South African Idols has a history supporting the LGBTQIA community, a fact which is illustrated in the make-up of the Top 16 over the past few seasons, our judging panel," says M-Net in response.

"In respect of this specific case, the Idols judges were judging the contestant's voice."

"All contestants are treated equally and judged on their singing, irrespective of who they are, where they come from or what their orientation is."

"The judges' dialogue was an attempt to understand the contestant’s identity and was not intended to offend, however we apologise unreservedly for any offence the comments may have caused."

It's not clear why the Idols judges in their attempt to understand the contestant's gender identity didn't ask the contestant or the show's producers.

M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle to fired Gareth Cliff accusing M-Net of double standards in Idols court battle: 'Leave Unathi and Somizi out of this.'

M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle is firing back at the sacked Idols judge Gareth Cliff, saying leave your former Idols co-judges Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo out of this.

Gareth Cliff is now suing M-Net and [SIC] Entertainment for R25 million, wants his judge's seat at the reality singing show back and wants the court to urgently postpone the 29 January start of the auditions of the 12th season of Idols before it starts without him.

He ignited a social media firestorm that spun out of control and led to a call to boycott M-Net, Idols and Mzansi Magic after he waded into the race debate that exploded after Penny Sparrow's racist comments.

Gareth Cliff accused M-Net of a double standard - arguing in his court application that he is being made a scapegoat while M-Net didn't take the same action against Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo who both caused major public outrage and their own social media storms in 2015 for controversial things they've said.

M-Net admitted that Unathi Msengana's social media firestorm impacted M-Net and that months later "we then had to deal with Somizi's inappropriate comments".

M-Net said it had implemented a zero tolerance policy, but Gareth Cliff says the first time he heard about that was when he had to read about it in a M-Net press statement to the media.


ALSO READ: M-Net's answering affidavit in fired Gareth Cliff case reveals several surprising 'secrets' - like a 2016 Idols Theatre Week set at the Wild Coast and not Sun City.


M-Net's CEO Yolisa Phahle in the pay-TV broadcaster's answering affidavit says "following the social media incident involving Unathi Msengana, Lani Lombard [M-Net's head of publicity] spoke to each of the Idols judges regarding their use of social media in order to emphasise that they need to comply with the code of conduct that formed part of their agreements with M-Net and to proceed with caution when engaging with people on social media".

"When Lani Lombard spoke to him about the dangers of social media, he specifically stated that he was well aware of of how social media works and the need for caution".

Yolisa Phahle is telling Gareth Cliff to back off Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo, saying the other Idols judges shouldn't be dragged into the court case because "the other two incidents are clearly distinguishable".

"Unathi used inappropriate language in communicating with a member of the public. However, she didn't issue a public statement of her own accord" and according to M-Net "the message also didn't relate to the very sensitive topic of race relations".

"Somizi's statement, correctly interpreted, is a criticism of white South Africans who he perceived to be engaging in racist conduct," says Yolisa Phahle.

"Although the language used was unfortunate, his post was directed to 'racist white South Africans' and not to white South Africans generally."

M-Net in the answering affidavit says that "the controversy generated by Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo and the negative sentiment that they generated was not comparable to to that which was expressed in reaction to Gareth Cliff's statement".

"The context was also entirely different as Gareth Cliff chose to enter the fray in the midst of an acrimonious discussion about race relations in the country and made statements which, by his own admission, were highly insensitive and ill-advised".

Gareth Cliff: 'M-Net fired me on Friday afternoon, then on Saturday morning at twenty past midnight they put out this sneaky little press release'.

"They fired me on Friday afternoon. We had a meeting. We said to them, 'You know what, put out your press release, do whatever you want'. And then on Saturday morning at twenty past midnight they put out this sneaky little press release."

The fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff told listeners on his show on CliffCentral on Monday about M-Net firing him from the reality show, after he also wrote an open letter saying Idols was only an extramural activity for him.

M-Net abruptly axed Gareth Cliff from his perch as an Idols judge for the upcoming 12th season - a position he's held since joining Idols in the second season.

M-Net is also dumping Idols from the premium M-Net (DStv 101) channel, and making it a Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show only - a move that was expected since November last year as audience demographics and viewership for the [SIC] Entertainment produced show changed over the past four seasons.

The swift removal of Gareth Cliff comes in the wake of the Idols judge who waded into the debate over the racist remarks made by the KwaZulu-Natal real estate agent Penny Sparrow she wrote two weeks ago.

After Penny Sparrow sparked a massive race debate in South Africa for calling black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

A barrage of criticism followed, with people calling for the boycott of M-Net, Idols and CliffCentral - something which immediately became a very big concern for M-Net and its channels and started to damage and negatively impact the Idols brand.

"Idols is not my main focus. It never has been," said Gareth Cliff. "It did require me to be present every week for the whole last half of the year. Which kind of meant that I couldn't go anywhere, I couldn't do any long trips. There was very little that I could do to change that schedule. If you're on live TV once a week that ties you down."

"To be fired over this whole mess that took place on social media last week does feel slightly unfair," said Gareth Cliff.

"The M-Net executives who were quoted in the media said that they don't think that I'm any of those things that social media went on its high horse to try and name me X, Y and Z."

"I don't know exactly what their reasons are for not rehiring me on the show," said Gareth Cliff.

"I got calls on Saturday from Randall Abrahams, Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo [the other Idols judges] and they were all kind of supportive and everything else. I'm going to miss them."

"We worked as a family on the show for along time.So I'm going to miss that crew."

Gareth Cliff rubbished reports about court action against M-Net and Idols. "You obviously have to get legal opinion about these things."

"A lot of people are saying I'm going to take them to court and stuff which is nonsense. If anything comes of it, that's for the lawyers to decide."

"I'm sure the show will continue to be successful," said Gareth Cliff.

"There's lot of these reality shows. If you don't like Idols there's The Voice, if you don't like The Voice there's SA's Got Talent [on e.tv], if you don't like that there's ... a hundreds of these goddamn shows. It doesn't really rattle my cage. It doesn't necessarily change the world."

BREAKING. M-Net fires Gareth Cliff from Idols; drops Idols from M-Net channel, making it a Mzansi Magic show only for the 12th season.

M-Net has abruptly fired Gareth Cliff, dropping the CliffCentral creator and radio DJ from Idols as a judge, and as has been expected, is also dropping Idols from the premium M-Net (DStv 101) channel immediately, making it a Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show only for the 12th season as The Voice takes centre stage on M-Net.

In a terse statement M-Net says that "Gareth Cliff will not be part of the judging panel for Idols season 12, which is due to commence with countrywide auditions at the end of January 2016."

"M-Net thanks Gareth Cliff for the critical role he has played in seeking out and developing new talent over the years and for contributing to the success of the show to date."

"Idols season 12 will be screened on M-Net's local interest channel Mzansi Magic which is available to both DStv Premium and DStv Compact viewers".

Beyond the uncomfortable statement M-Net, has so far remained silent as South Africa reacts to the news, with the pay-TV broadcaster no saying or explaining at all why and the specific reasons from M-Net's side for ending its Idols business relationship with Gareth Cliff.

The dropping of Idols from the M-Net channel has been expected due to viewership demographic and ratings changes after the pay-TV broadcaster made Idols a co-production since its 7th season in 2011 between M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) for the past four seasons.

Talk of firing Gareth Cliff who has been a judge on Idols since the second season, however only surfaced this week after he inadvertently pulled M-Net and Idols into a controversial national racism debate.

The powerful confluence of the worlds of entertainment and politics, combined with the power of social media, once again created a relentless firestorm that M-Net didn't want but couldn't ignore.

Gareth Cliff was the only white judge on the four person Idols judging panel, alongside Somizi Mhlongo who was added for the just concluded 11th season, alongside music executive Randall Abrahams, and artist Unathi Msengana.

M-Net's abrupt axing of Gareth Cliff from Idols as a longtime judge follows after the Randburg-based pay-TV broadcaster announced that it is "reviewing" the often controversial and outspoken personality's contract and ongoing participation in the reality singing competition show.

M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle, who Gareth Cliff interviewed on CliffCentral in September 2015, was swift to respond and to quickly start distancing M-Net and Idols from Gareth Cliff.

Yolisa Phahle quickly started to make it clear this past week that Gareth Cliff "is not currently contracted by M-Net" and that "we will be reviewing his future employment with the company".

Gareth Cliff who in 2009 also had a one season long prime time talk show on M-Net is now apparently no longer welcome at M-Net who doesn't want Gareth Cliff to be associated with Idols going forward.

M-Net, as a premium pay-TV service and channels provider to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, is highly protective of its channels and show brands.

M-Net that's in the entertainment creation business this week became fearful of possible brand damage and alarmed over ongoing viewer criticism that it might not be able to stem or manage if Gareth Cliff remained connected to Idols through having a seat as a judge.

Pay-TV broadcaster M-Net's move to sever Idols ties with Gareth Cliff was a commercial decision about how to best protect M-Net and the local version of Idols produced by [SIC] Entertainment in South Africa of the format belonging to FremantleMedia.

Gareth Cliff's management was informed that there will no longer be a contract forthcoming to sign for the 12th season of Idols.

M-Net has now also implemented a zero tolerance policy over damaging online and social media comments and utterances that might implicate and damage M-Net and any of its brands and is informing all on-air talent about it.

The swift removal of Gareth Cliff comes in the wake of the Idols judge who waded into the highly controversial debate over the shocking racists remarks made by the KwaZulu-Natal real estate agent Penny Sparrow she wrote last Saturday.

After Penny Sparrow sparked a massive race debate in South Africa for calling black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

A barrage of criticism followed, with people calling for the boycott of M-Net, Idols and CliffCentral - something which immediately became a very big concern for M-Net and its channels and started to damage and negatively impact the Idols brand.

Gareth Cliff later apologised for his remark, calling himself "an insensitive asshole", continued to explain what he meant and his views on race relations in South Africa, and saying that he needed to "continue his education" about hate speech.

According to sources there is anger in Camp Cliff over the firing, similar to when Viacom International Media Networks' (VIMN Africa) Comedy Central (DStv 122) channel decided to drop the on-air simulcast of Gareth Cliff's CliffCentral show in June 2014 just a month and a half after it launched.

Fellow Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo also ignited a race controversy in mid-December and was forced to very quickly apologise for his "racist white South Africans" comment that drew widespread criticism and a massive backlash from people, including former M-Net presenter and radio DJ Mark Pilgrim.

In 2010 an Idols race row erupted over the Idols judge Mara Louw's comments, with M-Net and Idols and Mara Louw who severed ties in 2011.

The nationwide audition process for the 12th season of Idols now on Mzansi Magic only will start on 30 January at The Playhouse in Durban.

It's possible that Idols might now go with just a 3-member judging panel and a city-to-city guest judge when the audition process kicks off.

An online petition, BringBackGarethCliff at https://goo.gl/JwwIuR was started, saying "lets not make Idols another politicised platform".

M-Net's Idols judge and MetroFM DJ Unathi Msengana now 'sorry'; suspended after disgusting filthy-mouthed Twitter outburst.

Damaging her own image and standing as well as that of the SABC, M-Net, Idols and MetroFM, Unathi Msengana who has been suspended by the SABC, is now saying "sorry" for her vulgar outburst on social media.

Unathi Msengana whose filth and hate riddled tirade against a 19-year old went public and will live online forever and might one day be embarrassing to her kids, now "wish to publicly apologise" for her choice of language.

"In what I have come to realise was a bad attempt to defend myself, I reacted by engaging directly with a Twitter follower. However, as upset as I was at that time, I should not have used offensive language," says Unathi Msengana in her statement. 

The MetroFM DJ and Idols judge previously considered the "nice" one despite some previous flare-ups and bad language, has now largely dented her positive role model image permanently.

The "rude" Unathi Msengana was for instance suspended in October 2013 by MetroFM after "unsavoury" comments, and with listeners complaining about her rude and sarcastic on-air behaviour.

The latest damaging self-inflicted reputation damage started when Unathi Msengana - who was suspended on Wednesday by the SABC - blasted a 19-year old MetroFM listener and Wits student, Palomino Jama, on Twitter who had different views.

It followed after a discussion of the documentary "Luister" about allegations of rampant racism at the University of Stellenbosch faced by black students.

Disgusting filth-riddled Twitter messages from Unathi Msengana to Jama like contained shocking languages like:

"Do you think insulting me, my marriage and my sexuality is going to change your situation? You're a f***ing idiot if so… you’re f***ing delusional if you think you can get personal. F*** your stupid mind. No amount is going to change our realities."

"You psycho b***h. F*** you twice over."

It prompted the SABC to suspend the mother - who hopefully isn't using that language with her own kids and calling them "psycho b***h" when they're not listening.

"Unathi Msengana has been taken off air because there are issues with what happened on her Twitter account after her show," says SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

The SABC will "engage" Unathi Msengana over her actions.

In a statement M-Net says "M-Net has engaged with Unathi Msengana extensively regarding her recent use of offensive language" but is not removing her as a Idols judge - for now.

"In light of the fact that Unathi Msengana has expressed her remorse over the incident, she will continue in her role as Idols SA judge. M-Net wishes to reiterate that it does not condone the use of offensive language and will take more serious action should such an incident occur again".

BREAKING. Big shake-up for judges panel of 11th season of Idols on M-Net and Mzansi Magic, as a 4th judge - a local musician - will be added.

I can reveal that a big shake-up is looming for the judges' panel of the 11th season of Idols on M-Net and Mzansi Magic - the addition of a 4th judge behind the table who will be a local South African musician.

That's not where the Idols' shake-up ends: a major upgrade is looming for the feared Theatre Round known as "hell week" - with producers upping the stakes even further, piling on even further twists and some changes to create a dauntingly difficult selection round which will leave contestants and viewers gobsmacked and shocked this season.

While tabloids went into overdrive this week with rife speculation about a change in the trio behind Idols' judges table and who is getting axed, whether someone is getting replaced or added, and gushing that an international judge is joining, none gave facts or were able to give give accurate information.

M-Net meanwhile is staying silent, only admitting to a change at Idols' judging table.

TV with Thinus can reveal the facts and the facts are these:

The 11th season of Idols will see Unathi Msengana, Randall Abrahams and Gareth Cliff all remain behind the judges' table.

None have been fired, none walked away, all are safe and will be back when the nationwide audition process kicks off this coming weekend.

According to high-level sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the shake-up entails the addition of a new 4th judge behind the Idols' table.

According to sources its not an international artist, and nobody on the existing Idols' panel is getting replaced.

Reliable sources tell me a local South African musician is joining as the brand-new 4th Idols judge.

"People who go to the auditions in Pretoria will be shocked since they will see the new 4th Idols' judge first," I'm told.

Meanwhile the reality singing show produced by [SIC] Entertainment - once again with Gavin Wratten as the executive producer and director - is also making dramatic changes to "hell week".

According to sources, those contestants who manage to make it past the first audition rounds will be shocked when they see what awaits at the Theatre round this year.

M-Net is refusing to talk about changes to Idols' judges table, only saying there will be a change. "We believe that the new season is going to be a show-stopper with surprises line-up from the word 'go'," says Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity.

"It's exciting to think that the country's new singing sensation will be somewhere in a long queue at the nationwide auditions".

Auditions for the 11th season of Idols kick off tomorrow at the State Theatre in Pretoria, followed by Cape Town auditions on 7 February at GrandWest Casino, Durban on 21 February at The Playhouse and the final auditions at Carnival City on 1 March.

Contestants have to be between 16 and 30 and need to take their ID to auditions.

M-Net's Galaxy of the Stars celebration at Gallagher Estate to be something out of this world.

M-Net’s Galaxy of the Stars event taking place this evening at Gallagher Estate promises to be an out-of-this-world event as the South African pay-TV broadcaster gets ready to celebrate nearly 28 years of bringing viewers premium TV content – as well as looking forward to its future.

I can reveal that approximately 400 people – TV executives, on-screen talent, government officials, production executives, celebrities, M-Net bosses and the biggest names in the South African television business  – are set to attend the "highly exclusive" black tie, sit-down gala dinner which has several surprises in store.

The bash promises to be the biggest single celebration centered around television since TV started in South Africa in 1976.

M-Net is set to highlight and celebrate its long legacy in creating home grown TV content but will also make a major announcement regarding a new initiative the pay-TV broadcaster is launching to support the South African film and television industry.

An M-Net spokesperson told me that the Galaxy of the Stars event – which will also be broadcast on the M-Net and Mzansi Magic channels on MultiChoice’s DStv on 9 August at 14:00 and 21:30 respectively – will highlight and celebrate the investment of over R1bn the pay-TV broadcaster annually makes into local content creation.

"With enormous challenges and problems facing South Africa’s TV industry in general and various questions about where the industry is heading, as well as new opportunities and challenges like digital terrestrial television, the Galaxy of the Stars event will showcase some of South Africa's proud television achievements, success stories, how M-Net has been and remains at the forefront of TV innovation and a glimpse of the future," an insider told me.

"It will be like the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) – just even better," quipped the source of the event which has Idols judge Unathi Msengana and film and TV legend John Kani as hosts.

M-Net has "spent billions over the years to create home-grown entertainment, across multiple genres, languages and TV channels spanning the African continent," says an M-Net spokesperson.

"The event will highlight the close, varied and strong relationships that M-Net has forged with key industry stakeholders, such as production companies – both large and small – speaking directly to its vision of partnership and collaboration."

Open invitation for new ideas

"The Galaxy of the Stars event will serve as an open invitation to the industry to bring forward their new ideas and fresh concepts, confident in the knowledge that M-Net will be, as it always has been, open to engagement, partnership and dialogue," says M-Net.

"The event will also offer a platform for M-Net to speak about a brand new strategic campaign whereby the company will be focusing on informing and education young students about the opportunities available within the film and TV industry across a spectrumof careers."

M-Net's Galaxy of the Stars made-for-television event will feature a dazzling array of appearances and performances by stars ranging from Siyabonga Twala and Johnny Clegg to Hugh Masekela, Mafikizolo, Zahara and many more.

"It promises to be the biggest, most magical celebration yet seen in South Africa," says Yolisa Phahle, the CEO of M-Net South Africa.

Unathi Msengana lending her voice to Rita the Cheetah in an episode of Doc McStuffins on Disney Junior on 16 June.

Unathi Msengana is lending her voice for an episode of the pre-school edutainment series Doc McStuffins on Disney Junior (DStv 309).

The Idols judge on M-Net will voice Rita the Cheetah in an episode of the second season of Doc McStuffins which will be broadcast on 16 June at 08:20 with a repeat at 13:20.

In the episode entitled "No Sweetah Cheetah", Rita is initially worried that she might be ill when she discovers that she's covered in spots. Then she's told that her spots are part of what makes her special and that they're a gift.

"I can't wait to sit down on the couch with my children and watch their faces as they hear my voice in Doc McStuffins," says Unathi Msengana in a press release.

"To be able to bring a local voice to Doc McStuffins is an absolute thrill for us," says Christine Service, the senior vice president and country manager for The Walt Disney Company Africa in the press release.

"The series exemplifies Disney's brand values of celebrating one's family and appreciating diversity and difference," says Christine Service.

BREAKING. Robert Marawa of SuperSport and Unathi Msengana of M-Net's Idols are back on SABC1 for Nelson Mandela tribute coverage.

Robert Marawa from SuperSport who started at SABC1 and Unathi Msengana who's a judge on M-Net's Idols but who also started at the SABC, both showed up on the SABC's SABC1 TV channel on Sunday night anchoring a Nelson Mandela tribute special.

Robert Marawa and Unathi Msengana are now the anchors of the new limited-run series Mandela: The World That Made Him which started on Sunday following the death of Nelson Mandela.

The first episode of Mandela: The World That Made Him started on SABC1 on Sunday evening, with more episodes to follow during the week on the channel.

Robert Marawa and Unathi Msengana interviewed people who knew Nelson Mandela and will continue to do so in further episodes of the studio based half hour show.

It's interesting to note that both Robert Marawa and Unathi Msengana work for pay-TV broadcaster M-Net and SuperSport where they have become closely associated with those brands. They both however are also doing duty as radio personalities for SABC radio.

Filthy-mouth Unathi Msengana and SABC1 guilty of offensive language and contravening the Broadcasting Code at live 2012 Sama Awards.

The Idols judge Unathi Msengana on M-Net and SABC1 were found guilty of contravening the Broadcasting Code when, during the live broadcast of the 2012 Sama Awards, Unathi Msengana used the word "m*therf_er" while children watched and which the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) found to be "grossly offensive". 

SABC1 has admitted error and apologised, as has Unathi Msengana who is herself a mother of children.

SABC1 was not given a fine by the BCCSA. The BCCSA Tribunal found SABC1 to be "in serious contravention" of the code protecting children and their exposure to grossly offensive content. SABC1 was officially reprimanded after the BCCSA received multiple complaints about Unathi Msengana's conduct during the live awards ceremony.

"Some of us live with kids and its very upsetting to hear someone whom they take as a role model speak like this on national TV," said one complainant. "I understand that this was a live show and therefore blame her for her lack of discresion," said another. "She should have acted responsibly as a radio and TV personality presenting an awards show on prime time national television. My whole family was watching and I could not believe my eyes."

"Unathi Msengana swore on television," read another complaint. "She didn't appear remorseful as she didn't apologise even on Twitter when her followers brought it to her attention. My 5 year old nieces were watching the show, SABC1 didn't have a PG L for the show as mentioned in the BCCSA Code of Conduct.

"Children are still awake and Unathi said I quote 'm*therf_er', please take measures to this bad language for our nation," said another complainant.

SABC1 told the BCCSA that the broadcaster went into "great detail" - because its a live show - "to brief artists to ensure this [foul language] did not occur. Unfortunately this incident of foul language then involved a presenter. SABC1 told the BCCSA that  "although not part of the channel's staff, appropriate action is being taken against the presenter".

In the tribunal hearing Unathi Msengana explained the changing of the SABC approved script from a sanitised version to the explicit version. She claimed that she had raised the use of the word with the director/producer of the 2012 Sama Awards and that she had received permission to change the script accordingly.

The SABC denied that permission had been granted by themselves or any other officially mandated SABC representative and stated that had such permission been sought it would have been denied by them since "they were well aware of the younger audience".

SABC1 admitted that presenters were inexplicably not briefed about unacceptable language use during a live awards show. SABC1 said it will rectify this oversight in future.

The SABC told the BCCSA tribunal that disciplinary action had been taken against Unathi Msengana, and apologised again. Unathi Msengana also apologised for her "inadvertent" transgression of the Broadcasting Code of Conduct.

WELCOME, Idols judge Unathi Msengana ... Queen of the Spider People!

It is a primetime soap ... but this is preposterous! With bigger shoulder pads than Krystle Carrington in Dynasty, Idols judge Unathi Msengana can now pass as Arachnia, Queen of the Spider People.

With her what-on-Earth? padded shoulder pads as outerwear Unathi Msengana appeared in tonight's episode of Idols on M-Net in this eye-popping (and not in a good way) outfit.

The only person in popular culture who now has bigger and more inappropriate, unstylish buns as part of her look is poor Princess Leia.

BREAKING. New Idols judge Unathi Msengana gives birth to a baby girl - but won't be missing a single episode of the new season.

You're reading it here first.

I can reveal that the new Idols judge Unathi Msengana has just given birth to a baby girl but won't be missing a single episode of the new 7th season of the reality show on M-Net (Sundays, 17:30).

During the first episode this past Sunday of Idols Unathi Msengana was six months pregnant - but the first episode of this season was actually filmed four months ago in mid-February. I'm now told by a reliable source close to the show that Unathi Msengana gave birth last week to a beautiful baby girl. It's her second child with husband Thomas Msengana, formerly known as Bad Boy T. ''It's all VERY private,'' I'm told.

Since the next few weeks' Idols episodes are already in the can and were recorded during the countrywide audition process visiting Polokwane, Durban and Johannesburg, followed by three weeks and three theatre round episodes in July at Sun City that has also been recorded, Unathi Masengana will be back - and not have missed an on-screen episode - once the new episodes as well as the live eviction episodes of Idols start on M-Net.

Unathi Msengana is now spending some time with her newborn baby girl at home while the pre-recorded Idols episodes in which she appears, are playing out over the next two months. While Unathi Msengana is nursing her new baby at home the next few months will give her plenty of time to think and make one weighty decision: which one of her Idols co-judges - Gareth Cliff or Randall Abrahams - will make the better godfather for her new pink bundle?

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! 'You deserve a smack,' says Idols judge Unathi Msengana to Gareth Cliff, and so the playground's rules are shifting.

''Why are you hitting me?'' asked an exasperated Gareth Cliff to the perfect new addition to the Idols judges table, Unathi Msengana, after the simply superb new addition as judge in tonight's first episode of the new 7th season on M-Net (Sundays, 17:30) gave him multiple slaps on his left arm during the Cape Town auditions.

Clearly immediately comfortable amidst - but not willing to stand for - the terrible putdowns and scathing comments viewers and contestants have been subjected to the past few seasons by fellow judges Gareth Cliff and Randall Abrahams, Unathi Msengana showed that refreshing change has come to Idols.

Like the older sister who will endure younger brothers' taunting and enfant terrible behaviour for only so long, Unathi Msengana made it crystal clear in this evening's episode that Gareth Cliff is going to have to learn a modicum of mouth manners - or will have to bear the consequences. ''Why shouldn't I hit you?'' retorted Unathi Msengana - clearly bringing a new emotional core to Idols that should find resonance with viewers immediately.

Unathi Msengana clearly likes and has immediate chemistry with Gareth Cliff as well as Randall Abrahams but it's obvious that she's also not going to be putting up with their boorish-boyish behaviour anymore. At least not withhout consequences. ''You deserve a smack,'' she said mockingly and with a smile to Gareth Cliff.

Yes, Gareth Cliff. You just keep mouthing off rudely on the other kids. Henceforth we'll bet that you're going to feel it. Sometimes a sister to keep an eye on the playground is just what is needed to make playtime even more fun. The new 7th season of Idols just became a so much funner and a sunnier place on television.

ALSO READ: Review - The 7th season of Idols on M-Net is a serendipitous circus of freaks, funny moments, talent and lots of ''fabulosity''.
ALSO READ: How Idols on M-Net went brilliantly meta for its 7th season with the self-referential The Brothers Streep.
ALSO READ: Novangeli Luhlabo - known as Ruth - is clearly the frontrunner to win the 7th season of Idols on M-Net.
ALSO READ: The thong song - From a man thong to a whale song, Idols brings the crazy from Darth Vader to Spider-Man.
ALSO READ: The 7th season of Idols on M-Net has a brand-new opener with more colours; spotlights.

WONDERFULLY AWESOME. The new Idols judge Unathi Msengana a perfect and great addition to M-Net's reality show.

Full marks for M-Net and production company Nevermachine for adding Unathi Msengana as the new judge to the Idols judges' table. Unathi Msengana is clever and compassionate, radiant and expressive, sincere and clear, refreshingly open and has honest and constructive feedback tempered by having a heart for the person she's talking to. And she's nice. Viewers who see Unathi Msengana when the 7th season of Idols start on M-Net will love her ... because the contestants who tried out during auditions already do.

Do you remember your grade 1 teacher? Absolutely. Having sat for over two hours observing the Idols judges who saw and heard contestant after contestant when the new nationwide audition process kicked off in Cape Town, I can tell you I'm immensely impressed with Unathi Msengana. She's exactly like your grade 1 teacher. When people see her and how she is, and get to know her, they will automatically gravitate towards her and love her. Because she loves them.

Unathi Msengana is like the primary school teacher who puts a band-aid on your knee. She manages to find good words of encouragement in bad moments. She's present in an honest way. You immediately feel as if she really cares. She sticks up and fights for contestants who she thinks is worthy with logic and good reasoning and she's not scared to go up against both Gareth Cliff and Randall Abrahams if she really believes in you. If you want someone on your side, someone rooting for you if you have what it takes, Unathi Msengana is the one who will try and help you. If you can't sing, she'll tell you - but she's not malicious. Somehow you trust her. You just feel that she's warm and cool, has a great life and wants you to have a great life too.

To quote Star Wars, Unathi Msengana ''brings balance to the Force'' that's the Idols judged table. She doesn't smirk and doesn't look for the slighest mistakes. In her middle chair position she champions the somewhat-underdogs, engage (and sometimes try to persuade) the male judges on her sides. The judges dynamic of the new 7th season of Idols with Unathi Msengana's fantastic addition feels renewed, refreshed and for the first time, actually balanced.

Danny K as first guest judge actually did remarkably well as well too, absolutely looks the part, and for what he said and did (some contestants got hugs!) he can conceivable actually become the 4th permanent judge so well he came across. All 4 of them together suddenly just completely works. Viewers of the upcoming Idols season will definitely enjoy Unathi Msengana and the new judges' social dynamic thanks to her inspired addition to this show.