Lesedi FM’s DJ Finzo denies Payola claims after unexpected dismissal

by Nomonde Simelane

Lesedi FM’s veteran radio personality Phinel Sefatsa, who is affectionately known as DJ Finzo, has come out to rubbish any claims of accepting any bribes, aka payola, from artists in exchange for airplay during his tenure at the Free State-based station.

This comes shortly after Finzo’s unexpected dismissal that left listeners in shock, as reports revealed that the dismissal was linked to an alleged payola bribe which he received from a local duo that goes by Gesh Lido. Although he confirmed receiving a payment of R5000 from the duo, the veteran presenter claims that the money was payment for a performance gig he did for the group back in 2023.

He denies claims and accusations of accepting any bribe money from any artists, and also questions the timing of his dismissal, with the incident occurring almost two years prior.

Finzo has revealed that he believes that the matter was a result of some internal politics, or someone with a personal vendetta against him, naming figures such as Lesedi FM’s programmes Mannini Nyokong and music compiler DJ Lovers as some suspects who have been conspiring against him.

” The same Mannini worked with the other music compiler, who is also a radio presenter at the station, to pin this whole thing on me, so that I could be fired. DJ Lovers is a friend of Gesh Lido, and he worked with Mannini to get rid of me…I have been with the station for the past 15 years, and why now is this thing that happened in 2023 being brought forward to destroy me?” DJ Finzo tells Sunday World.

However, an SABC spokesperson, Mmoni Ngubane, provided a differing perspective which revealed that DJ Finzo’s contract had lapsed, making this more of a contractual matter, as opposed to his exit being a direct consequence of the bribery claims

Also see: Woman publicly accuses Dr Khehlelezi of rape