Jozi FM Crisis Deepens as Armed Security Allegedly Locks Down Station
The leadership crisis at Jozi FM 105.8 has escalated dramatically, with armed security guards allegedly locking down the community radio station’s premises and preventing Acting CEO Collen Hans from accessing the building.
The guards are reportedly acting on instructions linked to suspended CEO Mpho Mhlongo, deepening an already bitter leadership dispute at the station.
MDN News is in possession of a letter directed to Hans and Fan Masango by HR Executive Rachel Nkosi, adding another layer to the rapidly unfolding management crisis.
With access to the station reportedly restricted, concerns are growing over the impact of the leadership battle on the broadcaster’s day to day operations.
The latest developments come amid a series of decisions that have thrown the station’s management structure into turmoil.
Fan Masango Reportedly Dismissed
In another significant development, Fan Masango has reportedly been dismissed with immediate effect.
The dismissal was issued by HR Executive Rachel Nkosi, who, according to the information available to MDN News, also failed to appear before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) earlier on Wednesday in connection with a separate dispute involving dismissed newsreader Dieketseng Tabi.
The developments have raised further questions about the station’s internal governance, particularly as competing management decisions continue to emerge.
What began as a leadership dispute now appears to have developed into a broader institutional crisis involving senior management, human resources and access to the station’s premises.
Board Suspends Mhlongo
The latest confrontation follows a decision by the Board of the Soweto Media Resource Centre (SMRC), trading as Jozi FM 105.8, to suspend Mhlongo.
MDN News reported on Tuesday morning that the board had formally suspended Mhlongo and appointed Hans as Acting Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.
The leadership change was communicated through an internal memorandum issued by Board Chairperson Rapitse Montsho.
According to the memorandum, the board adopted Resolution BR/2026/24 on 10 August 2026, resulting in Mhlongo’s suspension.
Hans was appointed Acting CEO on the same day and is expected to remain in the position until further notice.
The board said the move was intended to ensure continuity in the station’s daily operations while the leadership transition was implemented.
Regulatory Compliance Cited
The board’s directive also referred to regulatory requirements governing the station.
According to the internal communication, the leadership transition was intended to ensure compliance with specific regulatory frameworks, including ICASA TOR 5.1.3(c), as well as a High Court order dated 21 July 2026.
The board subsequently outlined new operational protocols for SMRC employees, volunteers and presenters following Hans’s appointment.
Those directives were issued as the station attempted to establish a new chain of command.
However, the reported lockdown of the premises now raises fresh questions about whether those instructions can be implemented effectively.
A Radio Station Caught in a Leadership Battle
The developments at Jozi FM have moved beyond an internal management disagreement.
The reported involvement of armed security, the suspension of the CEO, the appointment of an Acting CEO and the reported dismissal of another senior figure have created an increasingly volatile situation at the community broadcaster.
At the centre of the dispute is a fundamental question of authority: who has control of the station and who is authorised to make operational decisions?
For staff, presenters, volunteers and listeners, the uncertainty could have consequences beyond the boardroom.
Community radio stations depend on stable leadership and uninterrupted operations to serve their audiences. Any prolonged disruption could therefore affect not only employees but also the wider community that relies on the station for news, information and programming.
The situation remains fluid, with competing developments continuing to emerge.
The key question now is whether the board’s decision to appoint Hans as Acting CEO will be allowed to take effect, or whether the confrontation over control of the station will deepen further.
MDN News will continue to follow developments as the leadership crisis at Jozi FM unfolds.
