Mbuyiseni Ndlozi Exits Power FM, SA Questions: “Is It Because of the Paul O'Sullivan Interview?”
- On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi confirmed he was leaving his role as the host of PowerTalk on Power FM
- Power FM took to its official X (Twitter) account and announced Mbuyiseni Ndlozi's replacement
- Social media users expressed mixed reactions, with some questioning whether the decision to announce a new host had anything to do with Ndlozi's fiery exchange with Paul O'Sullivan
- Briefly News spoke to clinical psychologist Paula Quinsee, who shared strategies to deal with a job loss
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Source: Instagram
Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has left his role as the host of Power FM’s popular talk show PowerTalk after a year on air. Ndlozi joined the station as the host of PowerTalk, which airs every weekday from 9 AM to 12 PM, after resigning from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s decision to leave Power FM comes days after he hinted at his next career move in a light-hearted conversation with Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi after an interview.
Power FM announces new PowerTalk host as Mbuyiseni Ndlozi exits
IOL reports that Ndlozi confirmed that he was exiting Power FM during a broadcast on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. Taking to its official X (Twitter) account, Power FM announced that South African journalist and former editor-in-chief at City Press, Mondli Makhanya, would take over as the talk show’s host beginning 2 March 2026. The post was captioned:
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“NEW LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: South African journalist who has been editor-in-chief of City Press since 2016, Mondli Makhanya, is the new host of #POWERTalk. Makhanya will go live on #POWERTalk from 02 March 2026.”
See the post below:
SA reacts to new PowerTalk host after Mbuyiseni Ndlozi leaves
Social media users exploded with reactions. Several netizens weighed in on Ndlozi’s departure and Makhanya’s appointment, while others advised Power FM not to make changes across the board.
Here are some of the comments:
@vinnymavinny cautioned:
“Power FM management, please, whatever you do, don't ever touch Power Drive, Thabiso Kotane's show. We are happy with him, even when one disagrees with him, he will never personalise issues, he allows every listener to express their views, he never cuts listeners off because they disagree with him.”
@MaxwellModiba said:
“Like Ndlozi, everyone knows Mondli Makhanya’s views. This isn’t a neutral conversation; it is a position.”
@invakha asked:
“Do you guys have money or not? The newspaper reports about salaries that were cut during COVID and have never returned to normal. This hiring of big names, is there money?”
@gala_tweets advised:
“Okay. The reason podcasts are on the rise is that they do not obey radio rules, on time slot, type of questions, formalities, etc., it's all laid bare. If you are going to get a seasoned journo, tell him to throw the rule book away! This is what journalism should be anyway.”
@Iamderealskulb1 critiqued:
“Recycling old men all over, why not give a young woman who is qualified and capable of doing this show? Should you need a list of those young and capable, I can provide you anytime, thank you.”
@eliotchauke1 asked:
“Is it because of the Paul O'Silluvan interview?”
Source: Instagram
Speaking to Briefly News, clinical psychologist Paula Quinsee shared strategies on how to process a job loss.
Quinsee said that the first step is not repressing the feelings that are associated with a job loss. She said that losing a job does not make one a failure.
"Going through a job loss can evoke a range of emotions such as shock, anger, shame, and fear of the future. While this is normal as our survival mindset kicks in, we shouldn’t supress what we are going through, rather we should normalise feelings and acknowledge that grief and self-doubt are normal and to be expected, and that this does not make us a failure," Quinsee shared
Paula Quinsee added that people who have lost their jobs can start a routine that can help them get their mind off the traumatic incident.
"It helps to implement routines and strategies to help us focus on our future rather than staying stuck in the past, such as journaling and mindfulness practices, when we are feeling overwhelmed by the situation," Quinsee added.
Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Paul O’Sullivan in heated exchange
Meanwhile, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi's announcement that he was leaving Power FM comes hours after he had a heated exchange during an interview with former police reservist Paul O’Sullivan, as reported by Briefly News.
In a recording shared on X (Twitter) on Monday, 16 February 2026, the conversation between Ndlozi and O'Sullivan escalated after a sensitive question.
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Source: Briefly News
Tayananiswa Zvikaramba (Editor) Tayananiswa Zvikaramba is an entertainment writer at Briefly News. He previously worked as a profiler, sports, human interest, entertainment, and current affairs writer at Pindula (2016-2022) and iHarare (2022-2025). He holds a BA Honours in Archaeology from the University of Zimbabwe (2010-2013), YOAST SEO for Beginners (2023), YOAST Block Editor Training (2023), and YOAST Structured Data for Beginners (2023). Email: tayananiswa.zvikaramba@briefly.co.za
Paula Quinsee (Certified Relationship Therapy Educator and founder of Engaged Humans) Paula Quinsee is the founder of Engaged Humans, facilitating connection between individuals and organisations to create a more human-connected world. She is a certified Imago Relationship Therapy educator and facilitator, NLP practitioner, PDA analyst, coach and trainer. Paula is also the author of two self-help guides - Embracing Conflict and Embracing No - as well as an international speaker, advocate for mental health and activist for gender-based violence.
