Sol Phenduka speaks on low Salaries at YFM, Sparks Heated Debate on Radio Industry Pay

Podcast and Chill co-host Sol Phenduka has stirred controversy and sparked a wide debate after revealing the shockingly low salaries paid to workers during his time at the well-known South African radio station, YFM.

The 38-year-old radio personality made the bombshell revelation during a conversation that has since gone viral on social media. Responding to fan questions about his experience at YFM, Sol didn’t hold back, calling the salaries “peanuts” and hinting that working there was far from the glamorous image people often assumed.

“It’s not as beautiful as people think,” Sol said, reflecting on his time at the station where he once shared slots with Sizwe Dhlomo and Mpho Maboi.

The conversation gained traction after a clip was posted by Twitter/X user @ThisIsColbert, showing the trio candidly discussing their behind-the-scenes experiences at YFM.

https://x.com/i/status/1932114707235704950

Mpho Maboi added to the shock factor by revealing that staff payslips were often left lying around the station:

“Sometimes you’d go to the printer and find that someone left confidential information.”

Backing her up, Sizwe Dhlomo recounted a similar situation from when he worked at YFM between 2011 and 2013:

“When internet banking first started, people would leave their banking tabs open. You’d walk by and see, like, ‘This guy has a balance of what?’”

The revelations ignited an online storm, with fans questioning why YFM kept coming up in Podcast and Chill episodes.

User @SavvyMav3rick tweeted:

“@Solphendukaa y’all talk about YFM here, and talk about YFM at the podcast too. What’s going on with that?”

Others shared their own stories from past radio jobs and commented on the industry’s pay gap. One user said:

“Back when payslips used to get delivered, people would open them. I saw my manager’s payslip — dude didn’t even have matric, but he made 10x more than me. I was 18, but still. That hurt.”

This discussion comes shortly after former Gagasi FM presenter Penny Ntuli went public with her salary frustrations, opening up another layer in the growing conversation around pay disparities in South Africa’s radio industry.

As more insiders speak out, it’s clear that beneath the polished sound of the airwaves lies a world filled with inequality, disillusionment, and long-overdue truths. We are expecting reactions from YFM, as we know they can’t just let this lie low.