Live prank by rival station leaves radio listeners in stitches

A hilarious prank on Friday morning had internet users in stitches after breakfast show presenters from the country's second biggest radio station stormed the offices of sister station TruFM.

TruFM breakfast show presenter Reggie Solani and sports presenter Thando Manana's world froze for a moment when their counterparts at Umhlobo Wenene FM — DJ Pastor Nozewu, Mafa Bavuma and Mluleki Ntsabo — invaded their Bhisho studio in the middle of a live broadcast, to shout out the name of their own show.

The mischievous Umhlobo Wenene trio moved slowly into the corridors of TruFM's studios before bursting through the door shouting: “iBreakfast Eyondlayo Ekuseni [BEE].”

The prank was filmed by Umhlobo producer Lucky Matyholweni.

Manana, a former Springbok rugby flank and sport presenter on the show, Tru Mornings, jumped off his chair and spread his arms to block the trio.

As the pranksters ran away from the towering Manana, Ntsabo fired a parting shot: “On Umhlobo Wenene FM.”

Video footage has since gone viral, much to the delight of social media users. Many listeners alternate between the two shows in the morning.

Nozewu, Ntsabo and Bavuma all began their SABC radio careers at TruFM.

Their stunt took many by surprised, most of all Solani.

Speaking to the Dispatch, a still-laughing Solani admitted he had been caught out.

“I was shocked because uThando Manana always keeps his mic on. We didn’t know what was happening. We were busy introducing our main topic and explaining what listeners could look forward between 6am and 7am,” he said.

Asked if the listeners had discussed this on air, Solani said: “It happened so quickly and we had other features to get, so we couldn't get their feedback. It was hilarious.”

Solani and the BEE team's relationship goes beyond just radio. He previously worked at Umhlobo for a time, but had known them before that.

He said the three pranksters had all started their SABC radio careers at TruFM when it was still Radio CKI.

“Pastor used to do the breakfast show on CKI (TruFM) while I was doing the afternoon drive. Our relationship goes as far back as 2006. Mlu used to do sports on my drive show and Mafa used to read the news. Mafa was so scared of being on air, to make him feel comfortable Phethu and I would chat with him before his bulletins and would tease him afterwards.

“So we've been friends since CKI  days. When I got to Umhlobo, we reunited and spent a lot of time together. So we have more than just a professional relationship.”

Nozewu worked for CKI. We're friends and hang out together a lot. I'm friends with all of them.”

Umhlobo Wenene FM has the second biggest radio listenership in the country with five million listeners after Zulu station's Ukhozi FM which has seven million listeners.