Former Morning Live co-presenter Michelle Garforth said on Monday that internal politics at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) led to her early departure from the breakfast show.
She now plans to produce an African travel and conservation show for the international market.
Amid speculation over her sudden replacement by finance journalist Leanne Manas, Garforth issued a media statement saying: ”If talent is not supported it cannot flourish. Being a team player is vital, from all sides of production.
”It is unfortunate that internal politics at the national broadcaster, coupled with a gross lack of clarity of vision and communication from the show’s producer’s perspective has resulted in my untimely departure from Morning Live.”
Another statement, from the United Association of South Africa (Uasa) — which advised Garforth on her terms of departure — said Uasa is ”satisfied with the agreement that has been reached with the SABC”.
”The SABC has assured Uasa that Garforth’s skills and knowledge as a TV journalist and producer will not be lost. It is planned, for example, to apply her skills and knowledge in other fields in future,” Uasa’s Johan van Niekerk said.
Garforth said she felt relief when she was no longer required to do the show, adding there had been a ”total lack of clarity and direction on the show”, which she has anchored with Vuyo Mbuli since November when her predecessor, Tracy Going, resigned.
”This morning I woke up at 3.18am — I used to wake up at 3.15am — and I lay there with my eyes wide open feeling like I should be doing something,” Garforth said.
The agreement with SABC2 to which Uasa referred was reached after the broadcaster had decided not to roll over her contract, Garforth said.
”They owed me,” she said.
Her next venture will be conceptualising and producing a 26-episode conservation and travel show for the international market, with Garforth enthusing that South Africa needs an international showcase for the features that see the country winning environmental awards.
The format is expected to be ”a female version” of the popular Australian show The Crocodile Hunter.
”I won’t exactly be catching crocodiles by the tail, but I will become very familiar with tarantulas and snakes,” she joked.
The show is expected to air in April. — Sapa