Former Ukhozi FM Host Sbu Buthelezi Shares His Monthly Salary on Gospel Show With 3.6M Listeners

• Former Ukhozi FM presenter Sbu Buthelezi disclosed his monthly salary while hosting Indumiso, a figure that raised eyebrows given the show's massive reach
• Despite drawing more than 3.6 million listeners, Buthelezi said his take-home pay dropped to around R9,000 after deductions
• The revelation prompted Buthelezi to share plans for his own digital radio station, Crown Radio Pro, with a focus on Maskandi music

Former Ukhozi FM presenter Sbu Buthelezi has sparked a debate about radio industry pay after revealing he earned R12,000 per month before deductions while hosting his gospel programme. His disclosure, made on the YouTube channel Podcast, Radio and Stuff, has prompted many South Africans to question how broadcasters determine what their on-air talent is worth.

Buthelezi hosted Indumiso, a Sunday gospel show that he says once pulled in more than 3.6 million listeners — a figure he described as a record unmatched by any other South African radio presenter on a single programme. After tax and other deductions, his monthly earnings reportedly came to roughly R9,000.

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Sbu Buthelezi shares his plans after leaving Ukhozi FM

Buthelezi stressed that the financial realities for weekend presenters differ sharply from those of their weekday counterparts. He brought up former colleague Lucky Nkosi as someone who had spoken honestly about the gap between public perception and the actual financial rewards of a radio career.

He also pointed to weekday Ukhozi FM presenter Zimdollar, whose real name is Zimiphi Biyela, noting that listeners who hear comments like "R50,000 does nothing for me" may wrongly assume all presenters receive comparable packages. According to Buthelezi, that assumption simply does not hold for those working weekend slots.

These experiences pushed Buthelezi towards building his own platform, Crown Radio Pro, a digital broadcasting station he hopes will offer presenters salaries that reflect the value of the audiences they attract. He also wants the station to reach communities he believes Ukhozi FM never fully connected with.

Maskandi music will be central to Crown Radio Pro's identity. Buthelezi said the station's afternoon drive programme will exclusively feature the traditional genre, which he argues mainstream broadcasters only began taking seriously after years of neglect. The platform will combine audio and visual content as part of its digital offering.

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Buthelezi's departure from Ukhozi FM on 29 June 2022 followed allegations that he had used the station to promote his company, Abombuso Investments, encouraging listeners to pour money into a chicken farming scheme. He was suspended before the SABC terminated his contract. Some investors have continued to pursue answers about funds they say they lost. Buthelezi has consistently maintained that his dismissal was unfair and that he was not given a proper chance to defend himself.

Mzansi reacts to Sbu Buthelezi's Ukhozi FM salary

After MDN News shared the story, South Africans were divided over whether the R12,000 figure was genuinely low.

Here's what people had to say:

@FollowMakhi said:

"But he was working on Sundays only, meaning per Sunday is R3,000; mind you, he worked only 3 hours. So he was earning a lot"

@kenny_monei wrote:

"Why is it shocking if he was doing a 3-hour shift on Sundays only?"

@PRaeseba added:

"This was a lot of money, working only on Sunday for 3hrs??Aowa..."

What you need to know about Sbu Buthelezi

As previously reported by Briefly News in 2024, Buthelezi’s departure from the SABC came amid allegations that he had scammed the Msibi family in Nquthu, KZN, out of R600,000 through his poultry investment scheme, Abombuso Investment.

The scheme reportedly promised investors 100% returns on chickens and eggs within three months.

Source: Briefly News