Phat Joe received 77 complaints in one year – complaints commission

A registrar at the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) has revealed Majota Khambule, popularly known as Phat Joe, received 53 complaints in 2016 and 24 this year directed at his drive-time show on East Coast Radio (ECR).

The BCCSA is an independent judicial tribunal that deals with broadcast complaints lodged by the public.

The motormouth, known for his trademark refusal to abide by broadcast rules, has worked for major media companies, including the SABC1, eTV, Metro FM, Kaya FM, and was recently released by East Coast Radio.

The BCCSA confirmed in one complaint that the station was fined R30 000 after Phat Joe said he was feeling ‘Down Syndromish’. At the time the station took him off air for a few days after listeners’ backlash.

The barrage of complaints against Phat Joe’s acerbic tongue were not the reason for his departure, according to ECR programming manager Zane Debyshire. “We hired Phat Joe knowing his personality, and we wanted him to bring a bit of spark to the show. And he did,” Derbyshire said.

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