BREAKING. Digital Dzonga advisory council sacked by minister of communications: M-Net's reaction.

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I can be first to bring you M-Net's reaction after the minister of communications, Siphiwe Nyanda sacked the full Digital Dzonga advisory council yesterday tasked to advise him about South Africa's digital TV migration process, known as digital terrestrial television (DTT). Minister Siphiwe Nyanda cited a ''conflict of interest'' under council members who served on the Digital Dzonga for the past two years.

Karen Willenberg is M-Net's head of regulatory affairs and served as a council member on the Digital Dzonga advisory council.

Karen Willenberg, M-Net's head of regulatory affairs says: ''The members of the Digital Dzonga advisory council served at the behest of the minister and advised him on matters related to the implementation of the digital migration. Of course, the minister is fully entitled to address issues of the constitution of the Dzonga - whether because of perceived conflicts of interest, or any other reason. He has emphasized the importance of the work of this council and he is prioritizing the reconstitution of the Dzonga so this work may continue with minimal delay.''

THE FULL PRESS RELEASE from the department of communications.

BREAKING. Department of communications react after dissolving Digital Dzonga advisory council; don't want to mention specific names.

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I talked to the spokesperson for South Africa's minister of communications after the minister of communications, Siphiwe Nyanda's unexpected and sudden decision yesterday to get rid of the Digital Dzonga advisory council, that will now be reconstituted with new council members. The minister of communications cites ''conflict of interest'' under council members.

The past two years the Digital Dzonga advisory council advised the minister about South Africa's digital TV migration process, known as digital terrestrial television (DTT) - a process that's already lagging behind.

I asked Tiyani Rikhotso what exactly the conflict of interest is. I wanted to know when a new council will be up and running. I wanted to know when this conflict of interest came under the minister's attention if they have been serving for two years already.

Read the answers by clicking on READ MORE below.

Minister of Communications dissolves Digital Dzonga advisory council: the FULL press release.

I told you yesterday RIGHT HEREabout the minister of communications, Siphiwe Nyanda sudden, completely unexpected and abrut decision to get rid of South Africa's complete Digital Dzonga, citing ''conflict of interest'' concerns he doesn't want to explain or elaborate on.

The Digital Dzonga advisory council that was headed by Lara Kantor, has been serving for the past two years and advised the minister on South Africa's digital TV migration process, known as digital terrestrial television (DTT) that is already lagging behind because of the department of communcations.

I'm now posting the full and complete official press release that was issued by die department of communications yesterday afternoon which you can read by clicking on READ MORE below.

BREAKING. Friday Night fights: Now it's girls vs boys as Style Intern takes on MAN in Cape Town.

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Get ready for a battle of the sexes from Cape Town tonight when the new local reality fashion show Style Intern starting at 21:00 on M-Net Series (DStv 110) with mostly a female skewing viewership, debuts against SABC3's local docu-reality show MAN on at 21:30 on Friday nights, with mostly a male skewing viewership. Both shows were filmed in Cape Town.

Tonight in episode one of Style Intern on M-Net Series viewers will meet the 20 contestants being put through their paces at Fairlady magazine's editorial offices in Cape Town of which I already gave you the behind the scenes gossip RIGHT HERE. The judges are Fairlady editor Suzy Brokensha, the magazines's beauty and wellness editor Shannon Smith and the fashion editor Chu.

In tonight's eight episode of MAN on SABC3 it's all about fast Italian cars, nightclubs and even faster women. The guys hit glamorous nightclubs for dates and test the power that horse power has on girls.

BREAKING. Izak Davel's moneymaker shaking up Survivor SA auction; red speedo blows everything else out of the water in online auction.

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What a big difference one little red speedo makes. A day after Survivor SA Santa Carolina celebitant Izak Davel's red island lioncloth thingie went on auction, his infamous red speedo is already a massive moneymaker! The island oke's skimpy speedo is blowing all the other auction items out of the water, having attracted a record setting bid of R2 000 (by Friday night) after just one day.

Izak Davel's red speedo at the show's online auction site got a top bid of R2 000, making his red Bonewear swimsuit the most lusted after single piece of Survivor SA Santa Carolina memorabilia up for grabs. None of the other auction items even come close.

While nobody is interesting in teary quitter Christina Storm's water bottle, someone is willing to pony up R200 for Gys de Villiers' water bottle. Cindy Nell's necklace has attracted a top bid of R200, Okkert Brits' board shorts got R250, and Sandi Schultz' dress is getting R450 so far. But while nobody is interested in Garth Collins' (stinky) tighty whities,  Izak Davel's red speedo that got plenty of TV screen time, is clearly what fans want to get their hands on.

Click on READ MORE below for one more photo of Izak Davel in something red and other related stories related to his red speedo phenomena I've already done on this.

BREAKING. South African government dissolves the Digital Dzonga advisory council looking after migration to digital terrestrial television (DTT).

The South African government chose today to have a meeting and to immediately dissolve - after two years - the Digital Dzonga advisory council.

The Digital Dzonga was appointed as a group of highly skilled, highly specialized experts within the TV industry to advise and oversee the incredibly intricate and complex process of the South African TV industry's switchover from analogue television to digital terrestrial television (DTT). Minister Siphiwe Nyanda held a meeting this morning with the members of the Digital Dzonga advisory council that consists of 12 representatives from every sector including information technology, TV broadcasting as well as labour and consumer groups - and then dissolved it.

In a shocking and completely unbelievable statement by the department of communications, the minister cites ''a possible conflict of interest by some members'' of the Digital Dzonga advisory council. I called the department and the ministerial spokesperson confirmed the shocking news to me. According to the department of communications ''the minister feels that the Digital Dzonga advisory council had to be dissolved due to the fact that members are employed by organizations that have interests, directly or indirectly, in the value chain of the migration process.''

The minister also feels that the digital migration process to DTT ''shouldn't be compromised as a result of this issue. Yet, the DTT process is already lagging, already behind schedule and South Africa already way behind on the targets that was initially set for the country's digital TV switchover. The department of communications told me that a new council will be constituted and that ''invitations for nominations of suitable candidates'' will be sent out ''shortly''.

ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING NEWS. And as I've said: NO April fools' joke.

Minister of communications' FULL Digital Dzonga advisory council press release

BREAKING. Kabelo Mabalane the host of SABC2's new Sportsnite talk show.

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I was first RIGHT HERE to tell you about SABC2's new weekly sports talk show and that it will be called Sportsnite last week. Now, SABC2 just confirmed it. Sportsnite on SABC2 will be presented by Kabelo Mabalane, a member of the kwaito group TKZee and I can be first to show you his first official publicity photo.

Sportsnite that will start on 9 April on SABC2 is filmed at Waterfront Studios in Cape Town and the show will revolve around topical sports debates and news, sports results and behind-the-scenes sports gossip as well as highlights on upcoming soccer, rugby and cricket matches as well as athletics.

The first episode of Sportsnite will have former Red-Bull street style champion Chris Njokwana, co-captain of the Springbok 7th team, Mzwandile Stick, his coach Paul Treu and the captain of SA Women’s hockey team, Marsha Marescia as studio guests.

BREAKING. 3Talk with Noeleen's 7th anniversary: 7 looks through the years.

3Talk with Noeleen on SABC3 turns 7 today and I've written about the talk show's 7th anniversary RIGHT HERE. To celebrate, here's seven looks from talk show host Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu over the past seven years!

BREAKING. SABC3's talk show 3Talk with Noeleen celebrates its 7th birthday.

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SABC3's 3Talk with Noeleen hosted by Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu celebrates its 7th birthday today since the talk show started on the channel on 1 April, 2003.

''Oh my, seven years and how has 3Talk with Noeleen evolved!'' says Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu. ''Well, firstly 3Talk started and I was behind a desk. Things have really, really changed and I've embraced each and every single change that we've had. Every change brought something new, something exciting. It's just been amazing the variety of guests we've had on the show,'' she says.

''It's so heartwarming to know that 3Talk is helping people on a daily basis. And for me - I'm just so humbled that I've been on air for seven years and that South Africa has allowed me to be in their homes. And I've grown in more ways than one.''