Entertainment Reporter.
Idols judge and media personality Unathi Nkayi has finally broken her silence after she was fired from Kaya 959.
Unathi was fired with immediate effect after an argument between her and Sizwe Dhlomo, resulting in the station siding with the Afternoon Drive host on what occurred in the disagreement. According to Kaya and Sizwe, her verbal abuse allegations were found wanting after the studio microphones picked up the entire argument on audio.
Releasing her statement on Friday via Instagram on video, Unathi claimed the radio station was trying to silence her after she received a letter saying she could not speak on the matter because of contractual agreements as freelancers
“I was specifically told that I can not use my platform to share my versions of events. The only matter that I will address, because it is very important to me, is the theme of GBV [gender-based violence] that keeps on coming up.
This all started when Sizwe made reference to GBV in South Africa in one of his many posts about me. But GBV had nothing to do with the matter. I never alleged at any time that Sizwe committed any act of gender-based violence against me.”
“Sizwe knows this, Kaya knows this,” Unathi said
In her second video, she says she and Sizwe laid complaints against each other in writing.
Unathi then revealed that had since decided to hand the matter against Kaya over to her attorney.
She says she was unhappy with the narrative that she may have used the issue of GBV against Sizwe, including that the station nor Sizwe tried to stop or correct this narrative.
“In closing, Sizwe and I are not friends. I decided to distance myself from him the day he decided it was okay to say on air that my marriage failed because of the way I allow my children to prepare umphokoqo eyakho.”
It can be assumed that Sizwe meant this in a joking manner, meaning that Unathi shouldn’t allow her kids to prepare the traditional dish, uphuthu in isiZulu and in isiXhosa umphokoqo, the way they do.
Kaya FM has since responded to Unathi’s claims of being silenced,saying “Ms Nkayi is well aware of the contents of the final communication addressed to her by Kaya 959, especially where confidentiality and perpetuating a false narrative is concerned.”
The statement further reads that “Ms Nkayi is also very aware of the reasons and circumstances that led to the termination of her contract with Kaya 959, the evidence of which has been shared with her for her records.”