Gagasi FM boss, Ayanda Melansi, has received a huge backlash from followers of the Durban commercial radio station after a presenter revealed that she was being paid R2 800 per month for presenting a Sunday morning show. Radio personality and social media influencer, Penny Ntuli, quit the station yesterday. A formal offer for her was tabled in February that would see her earn R711. 98 per show at the station. The time slot given to her was to present the 1am to 4am show every Sunday. 

Gagasi FM treated Penny Ntuli so badly because she is a woman. There is no way other Gagasi FM Djs are earning R2800 a month. pic.twitter.com/57pQfj7uSx

— Lunga (@LLunga18) March 25, 2024

REJECTING THE OFFER

In a post on social media yesterday, Ntuli who joined the station two years ago confirmed that she rejected their offer and resigned. "To confirm the rumours, yes I left my job. It was time to renew contracts and I was given the opportunity to come back this season. I gladly accepted the new show until I was told that I'll be getting paid R 2 800 per month, something not too far from what I was getting paid the past two years," she said, adding that she felt disrespected but calmed herself down and went to her bosses to ask them to review her salary. She said with that kind of salary, she would not be able to plan or be approved for anything. "How will I support my family who are depending on me with such money? Would they survive on such salary?" she asked in the post. Ntuli also said during negotiations, Melansi suggested that she considers other options than being on air. "I decided to ask them not to renew my contract this year. I didn't leave the station because I have another offer. I didn't leave them because I don't like to work, those who know me know how I love radio presenting and how much I love Gagasi FM. It's true that I'm not coming back this year and I thank Gagasi FM for the opportunity," she said.

A TRENDING TOPIC

The news of Ntuli being underpaid has been trending since yesterday on X (formerly Twitter) with most social media users sympathising with her. Another popular social media influencer, Chris Excel was sympathetic to Ntuli, even though Somizi's name was dragged into the debate. Chris Excel wrote: "If you think life is unfair to you. Remember Somizi with Grade 7 of Bantu education and broken English is earning R150K a month on Metro FM. Penny Ntuli with qualifications is getting R2800 a month." 

On the same X platform, another user, KhweziLomso @Bongiwe_Wale was not as sympathetic and wrote: "People like Penny Ntuli and her Instagram friends are proof enough that social media standards are fake AF. Imagine earning R2 800 PM and claiming it's not enough to feed the family, but you make such content to show people that you made it in life." The caption was accompanied by Penny driving a top of the range BMW, and also a photo of a BMW SUV with a personalised registration plate written PENNY M.

ANOTHER FORMER EMPLOYEE CAME FORWARD 

Now, a former employee at Gagasi FM, Asante Chiliza also came forward exposing the same station for being abusive and backing up Ntuli.

Chiliza did not mince her words and was not forgiving of Melansi when she wrote on her X account that her former boss made her life hell while working for the station and how she refused to work abnormal hours. She wrote: "Lol nina anazi, Ayanda Melansi wanted to me go work at the Gagasi FM Ushaka Marine Studios every Saturday at 5am in winter, with no mall security even present khona ngizobanjwa amaphara ase South Beach (You guys have no idea. Ayanda Melansi wanted me to Gagasi FM Shaka Marine studios at 5am in winter with no security present so that the thugs at South Beach could mug me). She made my life hell after I said no as it's not in my contract."

She believes that Melansi, who joined Gagasi from Ukhozi FM last year, will reap what she has sown. Chiliza added on her page: "Sooner or later she will, you reap what you sow."

STATION COMMENT

When called the station, spokesperson Khulekani Shandu refused to comment on both allegations, citing that the station will issue a statement in due time. "We are announcing our new line-up on Wednesday and will issue a statement in relation to that,"