MZANSI’S IT girl and Soccer Zone presenter Minnie Dlamini gave the SABC the cold shoulder after the state broadcaster approached her to take over as the new presenter of Live AMP.
Dlamini told Live AMP producers she had her eyes set on bigger things in the sports department and had no time for the music show which she once presented.
Sunday World learnt that before approaching Bonang Matheba, producers of the SABC1 music show had set their eyes on Dlamini as their preferred candidate to take over from Pearl Thusi, who resigned from the show earlier this month.
Matheba was roped in to do the show last week Friday as a guest presenter while the producers were still searching for Thusi s replacement.
The show got viewers and social media trollers talking after Matheba featured rapper AKA on the show.
Both Matheba and Dlamini started their presenting careers at Live AMP before becoming big names in Mzansi s entertainment industry.
The two are seen as rivals as they always find themselves competing for the same shows, endorsement deals and sometimes management companies.
Last year, Dlamini broke with her manager Pumza Nohashe to join Jarred Doyle. Within a month Nohashe signed Matheba as her new client.
Doyle confirmed that Dlamini was approached by the show s producers to be its presenter.
She was the first to be approached. Unfortunately she could not accept the job as she is currently overcommitted and busy with her foundation and Soccer
Zone. All the projects need her attention and she also has a few more projects lined up which we will announce soon,” said Doyle.
He said the decision was not informed by animosity between the producers and Dlamini.
Minnie just does not have time in her schedule to do Live AMP. At the time she was approached she was busy preparing for the Saftas,” said Doyle.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago confirmed that Dlamini was the first one to be approached by the producers but denied that she snubbed the SABC.
Ms Dlamini did not snub the SABC, she simply was not available. It must be noted that Live AMP is looking for a permanent presenter and it will have guest presenters until the new presenter is found. This will depend on the availability of the presenters who are approached, said Kganyago.
Matheba’s publicist Krystal Thorpe said they do not compare their clients with others.
We do not focus on others, nor concern ourselves with the gossip, rumours or ramblings of others.
The need for relevance will often lead people to create a stir when there is no purpose,” said Thorpe.
Source:Sunday World