You FM Battles Rumors of Chaos and Staff Exodus

In response to allegations of internal chaos and personnel issues at You FM, Tebogo Pooe, the founder and chairperson of the North West-based radio station, has provided clarifications and insights into the recent events that have stirred the local media landscape.

Recently, the entertainment industry commentator Phil Mphela posted alarms on social media about managerial departures and general disarray at the station, raising concerns over the implications for newly recruited talent. His tweets suggested that something was amiss at the once troubled North West FM, now rebranded as You FM under the proprietorship of Motswako Media Group.

Pooe, addressing the "baseless allegations", confirmed that there have indeed been managerial changes. Two individuals have exited their roles through mutual agreements. One of the station's on-air personalities, Josi Chave, also made a public announcement about his departure to focus on his other professional endeavors, specifically his music label, African Noise.

Despite these departures, Pooe challenged the narrative that the station is in a state of crisis, insisting that the exits did not constitute an exodus and questioning Phil Mphela's provocative depiction. Furthermore, digital content producer Lesang Tshoke retweeted Mphela's assertions, adding allegations of unjust treatment of radio talent, including broken promises and problematic work environments at You FM.

Pooe expressed puzzlement over Tshoke's critique, questioning the foundation of his comments and discrediting the reliability of his claims, asserting that Tshoke held no previous association or insider knowledge regarding You FM.

From a broader perspective, Pooe conveyed that the station, like many other businesses, encountered financial strain, particularly due to the impact of Covid-19 on its cash flow. Nevertheless, You FM took pride in not reducing salaries or engaging in staff layoffs during these trying times.

The chairperson stressed that despite the financial crunch, the team at You FM remains dedicated to overcoming the setbacks and fortifying the growing brand, which has made significant headway since its inception four years ago. He highlighted the brand's growth and described the current troubles as growing pains typical for an evolving enterprise.

Pooe assured listeners and the industry that the station's executive committee is proactively handling the situation to ensure a promising future for You FM. With his full-time presence and leadership, he aims to maintain a peaceful and productive workplace while leading You FM into its next chapter.

As the story continues to unfold, Entertainment has reached out to Tshoke for further comments but has not received a response at the time of publication.