South Africa’s Leading Radio Station Draws Ire from Listeners After Axing Fan-Favorite DJs from Its Weekend Slots Just Days Before a High-Profile Music Event in Cape Town on March 8, 2025, Prompting Calls for a Boycott.
Johannesburg, South Africa – March 4, 2025 – Power FM, South Africa’s influential commercial talk and music station, finds itself in hot water this week after a sudden reshuffle of its weekend DJ lineup sparked outrage among its loyal listeners. The changes, announced via social media late Monday—just four days before the station’s much-hyped free music festival at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront—saw popular hosts like DJ Warras and DJ MsKaySos sidelined from their signature slots, replaced by lesser-known names. The move has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with fans accusing the station of prioritizing flash over substance and threatening to tune out as the airwaves brace for a showdown.
The shake-up hit hardest with Warras’s exit from Power Experience, a weekend staple that blended hip-hop and kwaito with his brash commentary. MsKaySos, beloved for her sultry Power Lounge mixes, was also bumped, her Saturday night slot handed to newcomer DJ Zane, whose resume boasts club gigs but lacks radio clout. Station manager Thabo Molefe defended the pivot as a “strategic refresh” to align with Power FM’s “forward-thinking vision,” citing flat listener numbers in Gauteng—home to its 98.7 FM Johannesburg/Pretoria and 103.6 FM Soweto signals. “We’re evolving with our audience,” Molefe said in a statement, promising “new energy” for the DStv Channel 889 stream.
Listeners aren’t buying it. By Tuesday morning, #BoycottPowerFM was trending on X, with posts slamming the station for sidelining talent ahead of Saturday’s festival, headlined by Black Coffee and Tyla. “Warras carried weekends—now you ditch him for some nobody?” fumed user
@MzansiBeats, echoing a sentiment shared across thousands of comments. MsKaySos, who’ll still host the Cape Town event, took a subtler jab on her Instagram Stories: “Change is hard, but love stays,” alongside a heartbreak emoji. Warras, meanwhile, stayed silent, though sources say he’s “gutted” after three years at the helm.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Power FM’s festival, set to draw 20,000 to the Waterfront with LottoStar backing, was poised to be a triumph—simulcast across its frequencies and streamed live. Now, it’s a lightning rod. “They’re banking on the concert to smooth this over, but it might backfire,” warned media analyst Kgomotso Moeketsi. “Fans don’t forgive when you mess with their rituals.” Ratings data backs the discontent: Warras’s show averaged 450,000 listeners per weekend in 2024, per the Broadcast Research Council, a chunk of the station’s 1.2 million base.
Behind the scenes, whispers point to cost-cutting and sponsor pressure. Power FM, owned by MSG Afrika Group since its 2013 launch, has leaned heavily on high-profile events to offset ad revenue dips, with insiders claiming new DJs come cheaper. “It’s about the bottom line,” said a former producer, speaking anonymously. “The festival’s free, but it’s not cheap—someone’s paying the price.” Neither Warras nor MsKaySos has confirmed their next moves, though rumors swirl of a rival station swooping in.
For now, the station’s doubling down. Tuesday’s Power Breakfast with Tessa Dooms glossed over the drama, hyping the festival instead. But as Cape Town gears up for Saturday’s 6:00 PM CAT kickoff, the air feels thick with more than just music. Will the beats drown out the boos, or has Power FM’s gamble tuned out its core? Listeners, it seems, will have the final say—whether on 104.4 FM in Vereeniging or the dial they choose to skip.
