Veteran South African radio personality and former Idols SA judge, Unathi Nkayi, is launching her own podcast, a move that follows a period of significant upheaval in her career, including a very public falling out with fellow media personality Somizi Mhlongo.
The podcast, titled “A.S.S (A Safe Space) with Unathi,” was announced on social media, accompanied by a photograph of Nkayi and her son, a picture she described as emotionally charged.
“He and my nephews have agreed to come onto my podcast to talk about it because Woaw,” she wrote. The announcement suggests a deeply personal and potentially revealing podcast series.
Nkayi’s decision to launch her own podcast comes on the heels of a highly publicised appearance on the popular Podcast and Chill with MacG. During this interview, Nkayi opened up about several pivotal moments in her life, including her departure from the music industry following the breakdown of her marriage to Thomas Msengana. However, it was her revelations concerning her exit from Idols SA that truly captivated listeners.
Nkayi directly implicated Somizi Mhlongo in her dismissal from the singing competition. She claimed that Mhlongo’s return to Idols SA, after a period away amidst allegations of abuse, was contingent upon her removal from the show.
“I knew it was coming because Somizi was coming back, I knew he wouldn’t want to work with me after the stance I took,” she explained during her Podcast and Chill interview.
This statement alludes to Nkayi’s outspoken stance against abuse, a position she has consistently maintained throughout her career.
“Somizi and I are no longer friends because he chose Thomas’ side, and I don’t have any problem with him,” she stated on Podcast and Chill while referring to her ex-husband of 13 years.
She further detailed the deterioration of their relationship, explaining, “He stopped texting and calling me, started going on boys’ holidays with Thomas, and even said weird things about me on his reality show.”
Nkayi’s career has been marked by both significant achievements and considerable challenges. In 2023, she filed a lawsuit against her former employer, Kaya FM, claiming unlawful termination of her contract following a verbal altercation with fellow broadcaster Sizwe Dhlomo. According to reports in the Sunday World, Nkayi sought compensation for unpaid salary, damages, defamation, and impairment of her dignity.
Before the lawsuit, in 2022, Nkayi transitioned to a new role at community radio station STAR 91.9FM after her departure from Kaya FM. In an interview at the time, she emphasised that this move was not a step down, but rather a new challenge.
“I have done all types of radio, so it is part of me that needs to find what I can do and be what I can,” she stated.
“They wouldn’t have called me if they did not think I could do it. I was asked to be part of a legacy that builds a brand-new channel. That’s a new challenge I have never had.”
She further highlighted her commitment to using her platform to address mental health issues, a theme that is likely to feature prominently in her upcoming podcast.
She continued: “The changes I have experienced in the past couple of years have shifted me to be who I am, every radio station I have gone to has given me a different challenge, so I have taken it the same way with great anticipation, the intensity with the intent to be greatest that I can be.”
This statement reflects a resilient spirit and a determination to overcome adversity.
The launch of “A.S.S (A Safe Space) with Unathi” marks a new chapter for Nkayi. Given the deeply personal nature of her recent revelations, the podcast is anticipated to provide a platform for further introspection and potentially even more candid discussions. The inclusion of her son and nephews as guests further underscores the intimate and personal focus of this new venture.
The timing, so close to her viral interview on Podcast and Chill, strongly suggests that the podcast will serve as a space for Nkayi to further explore and share her experiences, offering listeners a unique and potentially revealing insight into the life of a prominent South African media personality.
