Sbu Buthelezi, the former broadcaster from Ukhozi FM, has caused quite a stir by disclosing that he was earning only R12,000 monthly before deductions at the station, despite having the highest listener engagement.
In an interview on the YouTube show Podcast, Radio and Stuff, Buthelezi proudly pointed out that no other radio presenter in South Africa has matched his achievement of over 3.6 million listeners during a single broadcast. This remarkable feat occurred during his Sunday gospel program, Indumiso.
Even with his extensive audience, Buthelezi admitted that his net income at the end of each month was approximately R9,000 after taxes and other withholdings.
“I know the suffering of radio presenters,” Buthelezi recounted, recalling how his former colleague Lucky Nkosi once shed light on the hardships faced by on-air talent who struggle financially while the public perceives them as affluent.
He pointed out that weekend presenters like Nkosi encounter a completely different financial experience compared to their weekday counterparts.
Buthelezi observed that listeners often misinterpret comments made by high-profile weekday presenters like Zimdollar (Zimiphi Biyela), such as, “R50,000 does nothing for me,” mistakenly believing that all presenters earn similar salaries.
These financial challenges motivated Buthelezi to create his own digital station, Crown Radio Pro.
He envisions a platform devoid of financial struggles, one that can stand toe-to-toe with major stations like Metro FM to attract premier talent.
Buthelezi indicated that his online audio and visual platform aims to enhance the lives of its presenters, ensuring that their lifestyles align with the audience they cater to.
He also intends to broaden the station’s presence into regions where Ukhozi FM has struggled to establish a connection.
Additionally, Crown Radio Pro’s afternoon drive segment will focus exclusively on Maskandi music—a traditional genre he argues has been overlooked by other mainstream stations, which are now attempting to imitate it.
Attempts to reach a spokesperson from SABC for comments went unanswered at the time of publication.
Buthelezi’s tenure at Ukhozi FM came to an abrupt halt on June 29, 2022, amid allegations of defrauding listeners through a botched chicken farming venture.
He was first suspended and ultimately had his contract terminated due to the damage to the station’s reputation. It was purported that he utilized Ukhozi FM’s platform to promote his company, Abombuso Investments, resulting in numerous listeners investing their money.
While many investors are still lamenting their lost capital, Buthelezi asserts that he was not given a fair chance to defend himself and believes true justice was not served.
