Award-winning musician and media executive Loyiso Bala has officially announced his departure as the Business Manager for the SABC’s Eastern Cape Combo.
Stepping down from his role overseeing two of the region’s powerhouse stations—Umhlobo Wenene FM and truFM—Bala concludes a highly impactful five-year tenure at the public broadcaster.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, Bala shared a deeply reflective message detailing how the role stretched his leadership capabilities, reshaped his career, and brought immense personal growth.
Unconventional Leadership and Shared Success
Reflecting on his half-decade at the helm, Bala expressed deep gratitude to the internal stakeholders, presenters, and production teams who embraced his vision, even when his methods strayed from tradition:
“It has been one of the most stretching and meaningful leadership assignments of my career. Not only because of the responsibility, but because of the people… At times, my way of doing things may have been unconventional, but you continued to show up, and together we were able to build moments that mattered.”
Faith, Family, and the Listeners First
Bala heavily credited his faith, his wife Jennifer, and his daughters for anchoring him through the intense high-stakes corporate environment of public broadcasting.
He also penned a special thank you to the millions of loyal listeners who tune into Umhlobo Wenene FM and truFM daily, referring to them affectionately as “family.”
As he closes this major chapter, Bala looks ahead to his next corporate and creative ventures, noting that he leaves the SABC with profound gratitude for the milestones reached, the lessons learned, and the trust shared.
