MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa kick off season 6 of Big Brother Naija with 22 housemates including a Dubai-based realtor and a Princess taxi driver.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 6th season of Big Brother Naija with the theme "Shine Ye Eye" has started with 22 new housemates ranging from a Dubai-based real estate agent, a doctor, models and even a princess who is a taxi driver, cloistered in the camera-filled, Covid-19 safe bubble-production.

Big Brother Nigeria, that MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa are doing from their studio complex in Lagos, Nigeria, is running for the next 10 weeks and 72 days on the Big Brother Naija channel on 198 in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, and DStv channel 197 in South Africa.

Highlight programmes will once again be shown on various Africa Magic channels on DStv, with MultiChoice's video streamer Showmax that is doing The Buzz as an additional programme with more content around the show.

SMS voting has been dropped from this season, with voting only taking place on the show's website and the DStv app.

The reality series introduced 11 male housemates in the first of two launch shows on Saturday night, followed by the second launch show on Sunday night as 11 female housemates were introduced and walked into the house. 

Notably, host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu encouraged viewers to interact with the show on social media on its official Instagram and Facebook accounts but conspicuously ignored any mention of its Twitter account with over 1.4 million followers that fell silent in June after the Nigerian government banned companies, like MultiChoice Nigeria based in the country, from being active on and using the social media service.

Here are the 11 men:

Boma

This housemate shows off his modeling skills on stage. He mentioned he has been modeling for 10yrs and he takes modeling opportunities as it comes.

Saga

He is 28-years-old but considers himself a 21-years-old. He mentioned he's a free spirit, as well as young and fun. He's an engineer but would love to go into the entertainment industry as he has a passion for art and other creative things.

Yousef

He loves looking good for the camera. He’s very confident and he’s from J-Town. He is looking to bring some fun, sexiness and entertainment to Big Brother and is "single and ready to mingle" and looking for a soul mate. He's a teacher in electrical technology.

Pere

This 36-year-old says he's not in the house to "sing kumbaya" - he prefers "gbas gbos". He loves drama and considers himself an actor.

Whitemoney

He's from Enugu and he plans on bringing fun to the house. He loves to entertain people around him and says he dislikes dirty people. He might be known in the house for saying "who dey breathe" constantly.

Niyi

He loves people happy and feeling comfortable. He's married with a child and also owns a business in South Africa.

Yerins

He's a medical doctor. People think he's introverted but he's the complete opposite. To sum up his personality, he says that he is creative, dramatic and "plain crazy" and is curious to see what parts of him come out in the house.

JayPaul

He is a 29-year-old from Calabar. He considers himself a social butterfly and a "complete entertainer" due to his acting, singing and TV presenter experience as well as the tourism company he owns. JayPaul says people assume he's a playboy due to his hairstyle. He dislikes people who can't stay true to themselves.

Emmanuel

The 24-year-old is from Akwa Ibom state and he loves modeling, fashion, reading and exploring new cultures. He says that he is also very competitive. He says that he has "the mind of a hustler and the heart of a king".

Sammie

He's from the north Kaduna state. He has no strategy but he has a goal, which is not to leave the Big Brother Naija house too soon. He says his personality is a "vibe itself" and that he came to the house to enjoy himself.

Cross

He's a part animal and loves clubbing 4 days a week - Thursday till Sunday. He also mentioned he loves to workout, do yoga and craves drama.

Here are the 11 women:

Angel

She's 21 years old, and hails from Akwa Ibom. She considers herself to be friendly and interactive. However, she claims to be a bit bossy. Angel aspires to become a film producer.

Peace

The 26-year-old entrepreneur runs a fashion brand. She loves food and considers herself a nice person. She hopes to generate more exposure for her fashion brand after the show.

Jackie B

This single mum is from Adamawa state. She loves good vibes and spontaneity. She hopes to crush all the challenges that come with winning the money.

Tega

She's from Cross-river state. She loves to dance, and she believes that she has a fiery personality. Her mission in the house is to sell herself and add spice to the boredom.

Arin

She's a 29-year-old fashion designer who loves to read and research. She’s also an art curator. Arin hopes to bring energy to the show.

Maria

She's a Dubai-based Realtor who loves food and thrives in a bubbly environment. Her goal is to venture into the Nigerian market immediately after the show, as well as maximizing the opportunity.

Liquorose

She is a professional dancer from Edo state. She’s 26-years-old, but she started her dancing career when she was 12-years-old. She says that she has different personalities and she’s on the show to display all of it.

Beatrice

She's a fashion model, who aspires to sell her brand on the show. She owns a clothing brand and is working towards establishing a modelling agency.

Princess

She's a 30-year-old Taxi Driver from Imo state. She loves to cook and drive.

Saskay

The 21-year old artist and model is from Adamawa state. One of her dreams is to set up an art gallery.

Nini

She is from the Edo state. She loves challenges and looks forward to exploring more of them on the show. She's a model and owns a fashion brand. Her goal is to officially launch her fashion brand after the show.

ALSO READ: The 6th season of MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa's Big Brother Naija to start with a double-show launch on 24 July after it will run 72 days, drops SMS voting so the rest of Africa can vote.

CORONAVIRUS. Cinemas, theatres, galleries, museums, libraries and casinos can open again as South Africa moves to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown for Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

Cinemas, theatres, galleries, museums, libraries, archives and casinos in South Africa are allowed to open again from today as the country moves to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown during the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic, although they will be limited to 50% of capacity and must close at 21:00 so workers and customers can be home at 22:00 when the curfew kicks in.

The latest adjusted Lockdown Level 3 regulations were published on Sunday night after president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa is moving back from an adjusted Level 4 lockdown.

Under the new Level 3 regulations, spectators at sporting events still remain a no-no while night clubs also remain closed.

Public swimming pools, beaches and public parks, game parks, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos, gyms and fitness centres can open.

Restaurants, bars, shebeens and taverns are allowed to open their doors and have customers "subject to a limitation of a maximum of 50 persons or less for indoor venues or 100 persons outdoors observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used".

South Africa's theatre and cinema industries have been decimated by the lockdown regulations, resulting in temporary and permanent closure and thousands of people who have lost jobs and income.

Earlier this month Ster-Kinekor implored the South African government to allow cinemas to reopen, saying that the move to Level 4 lockdown that also meant the forced closure of movie theatres is a "devastating blow"is "a devastating blow" to the industry.

In 2020 South Africa's total box office revenue at cinemas plunged by a massive R1.2 billion to a measly R214 million compared to 2019 - the lowest in over a decade - according to a recent industry report.

Cinema chains like Cine Centre, Nu Metro and Ster-Kinekor are struggling immensely, with Ster-Kinekor that entered voluntary business rescue at the beginning of 2021.

After just a few months that they were open again, trying to lure back wary patrons with spaced-seating, packaged popcorn, rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols and even opting for cashless transactions, cinemas were once again forced to shut down the projectors and close their doors in late-June this year.

Chantelle Burrows, Nu Metro cinemas marketing and content executive, told TVwithThinus on Monday morning that Nu Metro cinemas will reopen from this Friday 30 July.

"This reopening also includes Nu Metro's specialised cinema formats: 4DX, VIP and Xtreme. We will initially be trading Fridays to Sundays, and on public holidays, only – in line with our responsible trading strategy under Covid-19 lockdown regulations"."

"Some of the blockbuster movies which will be showing in our cinemas from Friday include Space Jam: A New Legacy, featuring NBA superstar LeBron James and the Looney Tunes crew of iconic cartoon characters in a family movie adventure; as well as Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga, after this blockbuster’s record-breaking run at the box office was cut short at the end of June."

"Nu Metro joins the local industry in celebrating the return of the unique, shared out-of-home entertainment experience that only cinemas can bring," says Chantelle Burrows.

"Cinemas remain one of the safest spaces to be in, with extensive precautionary protocols in place to halt the spread of Covid-19, even exceeding governmental requirements."

"All our cinemas are sanitised after every show, social distancing and access controls are strictly managed, and all guests are seated facing in one direction inside auditoria, with minimal interaction between cinemagoers."

"Advanced HVAC ventilation systems, fitting universal health and safety requirements, are also installed in cinemas. We look forward to welcoming cinemagoers this weekend with a great line-up of the best big screen entertainment for young and old."

ALSO READ: CORONAVIRUS. Devastated Ster-Kinekor begs South Africa's government: Open cinemas says chain that warns 'impact of current lockdown will have a devastating impact on the business'.

SABC won't broadcast Saturday's start of the rugby test series between Springboks and British & Irish Lions over ongoing tiff with SuperSport regarding carriage on new digital channels.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster won't be broadcasting any of the matches of the rugby test series between South Africa and the British Lions on the SABC in an ongoing tiff behind the scenes with SuperSport regarding a deadlock in negotiations over carriage terms on the SABC's new digital channels.

The South African public broadcaster has remained silent without any press statement to its viewers about whether it would - or wouldn't - show the South African and England rugby test kicking off on Saturday evening at 18:00. The British Lions only visits South Africa every 12 years.

MultiChoice's SuperSport holds the pay-TV rights for South Africa for all Springbok matches but has been willing to sub-license the rights for free-to-air carriage to the SABC - but not for its new digital terrestrial SABC Sport channel that is available on eMedia Investments' Openview free-to-air satellite service.

SuperSport also demands blackout clauses in any sub-licensing contract for the "digital versions" of SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3, carried on video streaming services like TelkomONE, in cases where the South Africa's public broadcaster is to carry any sub-licensed SuperSport content on those channels.

The result is that those SABC viewers on services like TelkomONE and Openview get a black screen, similar to this past weekend for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final between Kaizer Chiefs and Egypt's Al Ahly.

After intervention by South Africa's minister of communications and digital technologies, and the minister of sports, arts and culture, MultiChoice and SuperSport sub-licensed the CAF final match free-to-air rights to the SABC that showed it on SABC1.

However, SABC viewers could only see it on the analogue and digital terrestrial television (DTT) version of SABC1 - not the "digital satellite SABC1"-version on Openview or the "digital streaming SABC1"- version on TelkomONE, something that the SABC failed to warn or inform viewers about beforehand.

Earlier this week, Gary Rathbone, SABC Sport boss, told News24 that the SABC won't broadcast the Springbok Test series against the British and Irish Lions since SuperSport doesn't want it shown on SABC Sport or any of the SABC's digital channel versions.

In a second clause, SuperSport also want a delayed broadcast, meaning that the SABC would only be able to start showing a match from after the final whistle of a match was broadcast live on SuperSport. 

ALSO READ: After SABC throws hissy-fit over CAF final rights, ICASA slams the public broadcaster as MultiChoice and ministers on Friday work to have SuperSport sub-license match to SABC1 to boost national mood after week of unrest and looting.

Rest in peace: Makeup artist Nonhlanhla Nombewu, soccer commentator Coudjoe Amankwaa, jazz musician Andre Petersen.

by Thinus Ferreira

The veteran hair and makeup artist Nonhlanhla Nombewu (pictured) suddenly died, while the soccer commentator Coudjoe Amankwaa suddenly passed away from cardiac arrest on Friday, with the highly-acclaimed jazz musician Andre Petersen (43) who died away after losing his battle against Covid-19.

Nonhlanhla Nombewu cause of death is still unknown.

Andre Petersen who tested Covid-19 positive on 21 June died on Thursday and was the jazz programme co-ordinator at the School of Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand. He leaves behind his wife Chantal and an 8-year old daughter.

As one of South Africa's most sought after pianists and educators the award-winning Andre Petersen was also a lecturer in piano at the University of Cape Town, University of Stellenbosch and UWC's Performing Arts Centre and received numerous classical music and jazz music awards.

He performed at jazz and arts festivals in South Africa and across the world, and collaborated with  dozens of musicians like Winston Mankunku, Makaya Mtshoko, Feya Faku, Robbie Jansen, Judith Sephuma, Jimmy Dludlu and many more.

The famed hair and make-up artist Nonhlanhla Nombewu who won a SAFTA award for her work, also suddenly passed away, with her cause of death that is not yet known. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) said that "the SAFTAs community has lost another brilliant talent. The 2007 SAFTAs winner and seasoned make-up artist Nonhlanhla Nombewu has sadly left us".

Nonhlanhla Nombewu was well-known among the casts and crews across numerous of South Africa daily soap opera drama series. 

Nonhlanhla Nombewu headed up the hair and make-up team at M-Net and the Ferguson Films-produced The Queen for Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), and previously was the head of the hair and make-up department at Isipho on e.tv, the head of hair and make-up at SABC2's Muvhango, the head of hair and make-up at SABC1's Generations, and was also a make-up artist for news anchors at SABC News in Auckland Park. 

The veteran Ghanaian football commentator and sports journalist Coudjoe Amankwaa who lived in South Africa died on Friday from cardiac arrest and leaves behind his wife and two children.

Cudjoe Amankwaa was a former Sowetan and The Citizen soccer journalist since he came to South Africa in 1994 and from there joined the South African public broadcaster. 

As a SABC Sports analyst and commentator he made frequent appearances on SABC1's magazine shows like Soccer 411 and SoccerZone and on SABC Radio stations, and also appeared on SABC News, eNCA and SuperSport giving analyses on soccer.

"Our friend, colleague and fellow, football lover, Coudjoe Amankwaa has suddenly passed away this evening. He was truly loved and was known as 'Malume'. May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace. I miss you already," wrote Christophe Bongo on Friday night who had worked with Coudjou Amankwaa on SABC sports programmes.

Dominic Chimhavi, South African Football Association (SAFA) communications director, said Cudjoe Amankwaa's family "rushed him to hospital when he couldn't wake up for supper and upon arrival at the hospital, was declared dead".

Danny Jordaan, SAFA president, in a statement said that the death of Coudjoue Amankwaa is a sad day for sports journalism in South Africa,

"The industry has been robbed of an honest individual and one journalist who called a spade a spade. We are all poorer without Coudjoe."

"This is one of the saddest days in the history of sports journalism. Coudjoe was one of the most amiable journalists around and had earned his stripes both as a print and broadcast journalist."

The SABC in a statement said that it "is saddened by the passing of Coudjoe Amankwa".

Gary Rathbone, SABC Sport general manager, said "I would like to pay tribute to a person who was not only extremely knowledgeable about football on our continent, but who was courageous, never afraid to speak his mind and always warm-hearted and larger than life".

"Having known and worked with Coudjoe since the early 2000s, I considered him a friend as much as a colleague, and will miss his presence in our world of sport immensely."

TV REVIEW. Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation settles for a more nuanced story in Grayskull-grey.

by Thinus Ferreira

5 TVs 

It's not - and perhaps never can or could ever be - the kids' cartoon again, with Netflix's reimagined Masters of the Universe: Revelation that is a much more gritty and depressing, and more adult "next chapter" of the story of the denizens of Eternia now inhabiting a post-apocalyptic version of their fantasy world.

Yes, the Netflix trailers were deceiving. Masters of the Universe: Revelation, although it is telling the story onwards from after the end of the iconic Filmation animation series, isn't so much a story about He-Man or Skeletor.

Now Teela is taking centre stage in a hero's quest of her own in Part I and its set of five 25-minute episodes (part II will release later with no date specified yet).

It's impossible to review Masters of the Universe: Revelation without noting some dramatic narrative events and character developments, so spoilers ahead.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation functions as a sequel of sorts to the 80s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that was a TV vehicle to sell Mattel toys, but this time - as with the journey from child to adult - the He-Man universe has also matured into a much more shades-of-grey approach.

The new series is one where characters are no longer one-dimensionally "good" or "bad". 

It's one where characters die and where individuals, even when faced with existential crises of environment, social order and faith don't necessarily choose to do "the right thing" to save themselves or others.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation brings surprising character growth that they've never had before to a now-disillusioned Teela, the wasting-away Orko, and most successfully to the no-longer-actually-evil Evil-Lyn.

It's especially Evil-Lyn who has the most interesting journey in moving beyond her stock character set-up, to voice the frustrations of having been a perpetual henchwoman-in-waiting of Skeletor. Evil-Lyn wasn't incapable of succeeding, it's skull-guy who didn't allow anyone else any space.

Longtime He-Man fans who grew up with the show or discovered it decades later and who just want a familiar story and fan service, might definitely feel ambivalence over Masters of the Universe: Revelation.

Prince Adam as the muscled, sword-wielding saviour and the purple-clad skull-faced Skeletor are reduced to cameo status in the first episode and only again seen towards the end, while all of the characters who look familiar, no longer act how "they're supposed to" in a grittier world that's run out of magic.

It's not just the Sword of Grayskull that's been fractured - it's relationships, trust and friendship. 

The new magic in Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is emotion - the characters are emotional and more rounded as they exhibit moments of self-aware introspection. 

Surrounded by an ever-present sense of loss, they actually talk honestly about loss as adults no longer tethered to a kids' show but functioning as adults in an adult world.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation is more violent than before (well, it maybe always was and we just didn't see it). The world is more nuanced as side characters who were along for the ride previously on "side quests" are moved into an Eternia main story.

It feels weird when a "main" character is killed off (perhaps, not permanently?) but is in keeping with the new Masters of the Universe mythos that exchanged the black-and-white choices, done-in-30-minutes, fantasy world of Eternia for an unfolding, serialised story with painful choices, now told in Grayskull-grey.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part I is on Netflix from 23 July

TV REVIEW. Put the light on bright for M-Net’s shaky Reyka local crime drama series.

by Thinus Ferreira

 6 TVs

With perhaps too many shaky-cam close-up shots, Reyka as M-Net's latest broody, hunt-the-killer local drama series tells a greyish-and-blue tinted story within a sugarcane field setting that's fine enough, although not excellent, for 8 weeks of Sunday night whodunnit?-entertainment.

In short, Reyka is like Prodigal Son and Silence of the Lambs (if done as a TV series), set among the lush yet ominous sugarcane plantations of KwaZulu-Natal where a woman with issues of her own, works to catch a serial killer by mining the mind of the man who abducted her as a child.

Done with a muted palette and a sombering grey-blue tint, Kim Engelbrecht is the current-time, older Reyka, a crime profiler hunting a serial killer. Gabrielle de Gama nimbly portrays the young Reyka.

Reyka strongly reminds of Kate Winslet in the recent Mare of Easttown, tracking down an elusive murderer (that will surely come with the obligatory surprise twist-reveal) whilst battling her own demons, trauma and internal insecurities.

The script, from screenwriter and creator Rohan Dickson also responsible for e.tv's Scandal! and SABC3's High Rollers, is likely inspired by the gruesome real-life story of Thozamile Taki, known as the Sugarcane Killer who was convicted in 2011 of the murder of 13 young women he buried in the sugarcane fields around Umzinto in 2007.

Produced by Quizzical Pictures and Serena Cullen Productions together with Fremantle UK as an M-Net Original crime drama, Reyka is perhaps peppered with too many shaky-cam close-up shots to help craft a claustrophobic, character-in-uncertainty-and-stress atmosphere that never lets up.

Especially Ian Roberts, Anna-Mart van der Merwe and Kenneth Nkosi are disciplined in their understated portrayals of respectively John Tyrone, mom Elsa and Msomi.

The Scottish Iain Glen, cast thanks to Fremantle, is an absolute star as banana farmer Angus Speelman now in an orange jumper who abducted girls with the help of his wife Portia (Nokuthula Mavuso).

Kim Engelbrecht's progression from former Isidingo starlet to meatier roles and gaining valuable experience in international series like the SA-filmed Dominion and recently in The Flash, is very convincing as the emotionally overwrought, obsessive, and filled-with-secrets, Reyka.  

Thando Thabethe imbues her role as Constable Nandi Cele with a resolute earnestness and Gerald Steyn pops up after Trackers, Lioness and his recent doctor-turn in kykNET's Binnelanders. 

Desmond Dube is also back in another dramatic role as if he has to again prove that he can do so much more than Clientele infomercials in his latest role of Zik, the community's spiritual leader.

Broken relationships, difficulty communicating, uncovering hidden secrets under the surface (in sugar cane fields), light and darkness, as well as a "new South Africa" that moved but that never truly did and that remains scared, terrorised, collectively wondering and captured, are all thematic elements and metaphors woven into the story of Reyka.

Be forewarned: Some on-screen gruesomeness are par for the cause in a catch-the-killer crime drama, with Reyka that is possibly best watched with the lights on, and on bright, on a Sunday night.

Reyka is on M-Net (DStv 101) on Sundays at 20:00, and starts on Sunday 25 July

Your TV guide for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021: SuperSport, Showmax and SABC Sport.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with no in-person spectators, moved to 2021 because of the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, officially begins on Friday with the opening ceremony at 13:00, with coverage of this year's games on MultiChoice's SuperSport, Showmax and the SABC.

SuperSport is dedicating eight channels on DStv to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with the traditional football and variety channels hosting multiple broadcast feeds from Japan. 

SuperSport’s roster of TV presenters for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are Carol Tshabalala, Julia Stuart, Crystal Arnold, Leigh-Ann Paulick, James Wokabi and Chisom Ezeoke.

SuperSport has also roped in Penny Heyns, Ryk Neethling, Lyndon Ferns and Marianne Kriel (swimming), Elana Meyer, Khotso Mokoena and Hezekiel Sepeng (athletics), Pietie Norval (tennis), as well as Ramon Di Clemente (rowing) as its Olympics experts who will do commentary and analyses.

SuperSport will broadcast daily 2020 Olympic Games segments on SuperSport Blitz (DStv 200) that will include athlete interviews, detailed wraps, features, profiles, historic content and scene-setters, as well as repeats and highlights and a daily, hour-long Olympic catch-up show at 19:00.

The SuperSport Grandstand (DStv 201) channel feed will focus on the most important events on the go, but also cross-promote other events to help DStv subscribers navigate the Olympics. Should the Grandstand channel switch from one venue to the other, it will advise where viewers can continue to watch the original event.

MultiChoice's DStv app and website will include 4 additional streaming channels with more live Olympic content, available to DStv Premium subscribers.

MultiChoice's subscription video-on-demand streaming service, Showmax is also carrying 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games coverage. All Showmax subscribers are able to stream exclusive Olympics coverage, including talk shows, highlights and documentaries. Only Showmax Pro subscribers are getting access to live streams of every available event.

The South African public broadcaster is also doing 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games coverage but at the time of publishing hasn't released any details, information about anchors and presenters, nor any programme or channel specific advisories as to where and the times viewers can tune in.

On Twitter, SABC Sport said in a generic announcement that the SABC's sport channel will show live coverage as well as on the other SABC channels and SABC radio stations.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice's Showmax Pro to live-stream the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games from 23 July.  

Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko leaving after 9 years at end of June 2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko is leaving after 9 years and will exit the telecom on 30 June 2022, Telkom announced on Friday morning that is looking for a replacement.

"I feel now is the right time for me to step aside and make way for a new leader who will take Telkom to even greater heights," Sipho Maseko said in a quote provided to TVwithThinus.

"I will stay on until June 2022 to ensure a smooth transition for my successor. I am most thankful to my colleagues across our country, for trusting me to lead Telkom, and for supporting me throughout this journey of transition."

Telkom in a statement said that "The process to appoint a successor is well under way and a group CEO-designate will be announced in the not-too-distant future."

"Sipho would, for the remainder of his tenure, ensure the incoming group CEO-designate’s orderly transition into the role."

Sipho Maseko joined the troubled parastatal on 1 April 2013.

Telkom has since then gone through dramatic restructuring, resized through the retrenchment of thousands of workers and has started to pivot to offering internet-era services like its TelkomONE video streaming service, a Telkom Music app and an expanding Telkom Mobile offering as Telkom is experiencing a dramatic decline in fixed-landline copper line customers and a move towards offering fibre-connected services.  

"During his tenure, Sipho Maseko turned the business around and evolved it from a traditional fixed business to a portfolio of businesses, which comprises the mobile, IT and wholesale infrastructure businesses, and the masts and towers portfolio," says Telkom in its statement.

"Under his leadership, the group has had many remarkable strategic achievements in its execution of its broadband-led strategy, which are reflected in the group's current healthy position."

"The mobile business grew to become the third-largest mobile business in South Africa with more than 15 million customers and generating R20 billion in revenue. The fibre footprint was expanded and the fixed customer base was migrated to new technologies (fibre and LTE). The number of homes connected with fibre now exceeds the number of homes connected with copper."

Here is Sipho Maseko's exit letter to staffers:

Dear colleagues

Today, 8 years, 3 months and 23 days ago, I entered my office on the 24th floor in Telkom Towers North in Pretoria for the first time. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember the anxiety and the unfamiliarity that comes from being the new kid on the block. Mostly, though, I remember feeling excited and determined; determined to do the job and do it right, and determined to build a new, better Telkom. This has always been of utmost importance to me: always leave a place better than you found it.

My moment of leaving is now taking shape. I have informed the Board that I will be stepping down as Group CEO of Telkom Group on 31 March 2022. My final day of service will be 30 June 2022, in other words after the annual results, and on completion of my notice period.

The right time to leave

As my Telkom journey enters the home straight, the foremost question on my mind is this: is Telkom a better place?

Eight years ago, the mission was very clear: we must save the company, get it to be sustainable and able to hold its own in the future relative to its peers. I’m broadly satisfied that this mandate has been fulfilled. Today, Telkom is a stable company. We have de-risked our business, we have a very clear strategy for each of the business units. We are on a clear and definite path to unlock value for our shareholders, indeed all our stakeholders. It wasn’t an easy ride, but our perseverance has paid off. I remain very optimistic and confident about our strategy and the future of the company.

So, this is the right time for me to step aside and make way for a new leader able to take Telkom to even greater heights. The Board will soon make a separate announcement in this regard.

We built Telkom together

Telkom is by far the most exciting, complex, challenging and fascinating “project” I’ve ever been part of. In fact, I quickly fell in love with the firm. Its history, role in South Africa, achievements, challenges and possibilities made me decide to spend the better part of my adult career here.

I am so proud and so very thankful for many things. I can’t begin to list them all in this communiqué. But let me say this: I am most thankful to you, my colleagues across our country, for trusting me to lead Telkom, and for supporting me throughout this journey; a journey that often took us to unexplored places.

Not only does Telkom have talented people, the company is blessed with people who are willing to make sacrifices. And over the years, people have sacrificed. For this, past and present employees have my thanks and utmost respect. I know this attitude will continue to serve the firm well as the future unfolds. Long may Telkom’s prosperity last!

Looking ahead

For the next eight months until our financial year-end, I will give my all to ensure we meet, or even exceed, our financial and non-financial objectives – one last push to ensure Telkom continues to evolve into a better place.

We will hopefully be able to engage and meet up over the next eight months to reflect on where we came from, and where Telkom is heading.

I thank every one of you.

Sipho

Frank out after American Pickers fight with Mike as the two are no longer speak. A divorce. And is Danielle leaving? American Pickers fans won't like the series' bad news.

by Thinus Ferreira

Do you want to live in a world where Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe of American Pickers are fighting, and where even Danielle isn't there to guide them to their next backstreet barnyard to rummage through rusty, rundown, yet valuable yesteryear treasures?

There's a lot of drama behind the scenes at the hugely popular American Pickers series on History (DStv 186) that fans will want to know about - and it's not good.

 The longrunning A+E Networks series has been on TV for 11 years since 2010 as comfortable to watch "wallpaper" television.

The series quietly became a sleeper hit with millions of viewers worldwide who fell in love watching the series in which the antique and collectible "pickers" Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz travel around America as they snoop into warehouses, barns, garages and all kinds of rundown buildings to pick out items and then haggle over price with the owners.

They're always dispatched by a call from the lovely Danielle Colby who runs the office at Mike Wolfe's Antique Archaeology.

Now Mike and Frank are no longer speaking to each other after Frank appeared in more than 300 episodes of the show - in fact they haven't spoken to each other in over two years and Frank might not be back on the show.

"I haven't talked to Mike in two years," Frank, who has lost a lot of weight the last few years, told The Sun in an interview. "He knew my back was messed up, but he didn't call me up and ask how I was doing. That's just how it is."

"The show is tilted towards him 1 000 percent," said Frank about Wolfe. 

"I can't even bend that far down to show you how much. That's fine. It's like you've got Aerosmith and there's Steven Tyler and he's the frontman. I found my spot, I'm second and he's number one on the show. That's no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem."

"I don't know why he's behaving like that towards me."

On Instagram Mike now wrote that he will "miss Frank".

"I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me".

"The journey that Frank, Dani and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding. I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey."

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Meanwhile, America's People magazine reports that Mike and his wife Jodi Catherine Wolfe who have a daughter Charlie together, have filed for divorce after nearly 9 years of marriage, after they got married in September 2012.

They cite the usual "irreconcilable differences" that most Americans list on their divorce filings, with Jodi noting that the couple is "unable to successfully live together".

And where is Danielle? Well, nobody exactly knows.

Danielle who got quietly divorced from her husband Alexandre De Meyer and who is now engaged to Jeremy Scheuch, is in Puerto Rico where, according to the History Channel, she is helping the rebuild of the island.

Dani is still listed on her IMDb as being part of the show, as well as on the series' website and will appear in already-filmed American episodes during the whole of 2021, and for much longer internationally.

She did however deactivate her "danielleamericanpicker" account on Instagram that she used to use, and according to Distractify she also changed her Facebook name from "Danielle Colby, American Pickers" to just "Danielle Colby".