Jozi FM Power Struggle Deepens as Board Denies CEO Mpho Mhlongo Suspension
The battle for control of Soweto’s Jozi FM has entered a volatile new phase, with the station’s board denying that CEO Mpho Mhlongo has been suspended, despite an internal memorandum that reportedly authorised his removal and appointed an acting chief executive.
The conflicting claims have plunged the community radio station into an increasingly bitter leadership dispute, raising questions about who currently holds legitimate authority over its operations.
During a media briefing on Friday evening, the Soweto Media Resource Centre (SMRC), the parent organisation trading as Jozi FM, rejected reports that Mhlongo had been removed from his executive duties.
Speaking on behalf of the board, SMRC board member Mbali Mondlana said Mhlongo remained the station’s legitimate and active CEO.
Mondlana said the briefing had been convened to address what the board described as misleading and unauthorised information circulating about the station’s leadership.
“The board categorically confirms that Mhlongo remains in his position and that there has been no suspension,” Mondlana said.
She further claimed that notices, statements or other communications suggesting that Mhlongo had been suspended were false and fraudulent.
According to Mondlana, the claims formed part of attempts by disgruntled former directors to interfere with the station’s operations and governance.
The board, she said, remained committed to protecting Jozi FM’s institutional integrity and would consider legal action against individuals responsible for what it regarded as misinformation.
Mondlana also urged listeners, advertisers and community stakeholders to rely on official communications from the current board rather than information circulating on social media.
Internal Memorandum Tells a Different Story
The board’s position, however, stands in direct contrast to an internal memorandum that emerged publicly last week.
According to an earlier report by MDN News, a faction of the SMRC board led by chairperson Rapitse Montsho passed Resolution BR/2026/24 on 10 August 2026, which purportedly suspended Mhlongo from his position.
The resolution reportedly appointed Collen Hans as acting CEO, with the stated objective of maintaining continuity in the station’s daily operations.
The memorandum cited regulatory compliance requirements, including ICASA TOR 5.1.3(c), as well as a High Court order dated 21 July 2026.
Under the disputed arrangements, staff members, volunteers and presenters were instructed to report directly to Hans.
He was also reportedly designated as the station’s authorised signatory while the leadership dispute was being managed.
The memorandum linked the temporary leadership arrangements to Jozi FM’s upcoming Elective Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on or before 21 September 2026.
The conflicting versions of events have left the station facing a serious governance crisis, with competing claims over who has authority to make executive decisions.
Leadership Dispute Spills Into Station Premises
The institutional conflict has also reportedly spilled into the station’s physical operations.
According to reports, Mhlongo allegedly brought in private armed security personnel to enforce a lockdown at the station’s premises.
The security guards reportedly prevented Hans, who had been named acting CEO in the disputed resolution, from entering the building.
The allegations have added another layer of tension to an already volatile dispute, transforming an internal governance battle into a confrontation over access to the station itself.
Neither side’s competing claims have, at this stage, brought the dispute to a definitive conclusion.
Staff Fallout Adds to the Tension
The leadership crisis has also reportedly affected employees.
Following the station lockdown, long serving team member Fan Masango was dismissed with immediate effect.
The dismissal letter was reportedly issued by HR executive Rachel Nkosi.
Nkosi has herself become part of a separate labour dispute within the organisation.
Internal sources claim she failed to appear before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in connection with a separate dispute involving former Jozi FM newsreader Dieketseng Tabi, who was previously dismissed.
These claims have not been independently established in the information available and form part of the wider allegations surrounding the station’s internal affairs.
September AGM Could Become a Defining Moment
With two competing versions of the leadership situation now in the public domain, the approaching AGM could prove critical for Jozi FM.
At the centre of the dispute is a fundamental question: who has the lawful authority to run the station while the competing factions continue to challenge each other’s decisions?
The board’s latest statement insists that Mhlongo remains CEO and that reports of his suspension are fraudulent.
The leaked memorandum, however, presents a dramatically different picture, claiming that a board faction had already suspended him and installed Hans as acting CEO.
Until the competing claims are resolved through the appropriate legal and governance processes, Jozi FM faces the prospect of continued uncertainty over its leadership, staff and daily operations.
For a community radio station with deep roots in Soweto, the stakes extend beyond an internal boardroom battle.
The fight now threatens to become a test of governance, accountability and institutional control at one of the area’s most recognisable community broadcasters.
As the September AGM approaches, all eyes will be on the board, Mhlongo and the competing factions to determine whether the dispute can be resolved through governance processes or whether the battle for Jozi FM will move into an even more contentious chapter.
