Malema signs up for Touch Central because Hlaudi ‘destroyed’ Metro FM

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Friday tweeted that he had joined Gareth Cliff and Tbo Touch’s new streaming service Touch Central because he couldn’t listen to Metro FM any more.

The SABC is reportedly haemorrhaging listeners and revenue because of its devotion to former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s decision to implement a strict 90% local music policy. It was supposed to be an experiment for only three months, but it’s been continuing for nearly double that time.

Private commercial radio and online streaming is understood to be benefiting in return. Tbo Touch, real name Thabo Molefe, left the SABC’s Metro FM earlier this year to start working on his own online radio station. Gareth Cliff left the SABC’s youth radio station 5FM in 2014 to start Cliff Central.

Touch Central started streaming from September 1 and presenters can do and say as they like, as they are not bound by broadcasting regulations.

Tbo Touch hosts the daily afternoon drive show on the station from 3pm to 7pm, with the name of the show remaining “The Touchdown”.

Here’s the rest of Touch Central’s daily line-up that was announced before the station’s launch:

• 6am to 9am: The Gareth Cliff Show with Gareth Cliff
• 9am to 11am: Start the Adventure with Lerato Tshabalala
• 11am to 1pm: Arye Kellman and Katlego Mohoaduba
• 1pm to 3pm: Oneal Africa entertainment and celebrity news
• 3pm to 7pm: The Touchdown with Tbo Touch.