Peter van Onselen leaves ANN7

Peter van Onselen, the long running presenter of ANN7's breakfast show, Vuka Africa signed off today for the last time.


He leaves ANN7 to go back to his former broadcast home, etv, where he used to be a bulletin editor. It is not yet clear exaclty what role he would now have at etv/eNCA.

Though ANN7 experienced countless changes over the last three years, the one constant in the equation wass that Peter would be seen anchoring in the morning. In addition to anchoring the morning hours van Onselen has also contributed greatly to the channel's coverage of bigger events like the elections.

On his last bulletin with the channel, Peter tweeted, "My final hour on @ANN7tv . Big highs, big lows. Watch this space...see you on the other side... and Thank You for your support. #3years OUT ."

This means that Express Lunch's Abigal Visagie is the only on air anchor still at ANN7 who has been with the channel since launch.

It is unclear at this moment who will take over Peter's role on Vuka Africa.

Abigail Visagie [Finally] Shifts to Vuka Africa, Juliet Newell Takes Over On Express Lunch

Abigail Visagie and Peter van Onselen having fun on the ANN7 Set [pic from @AbigailVisagie_]

Abigail Visagie has now finally made the jump from ANN7's Express Lunch to Vuka Africa, where she now anchors alongside senior anchor Peter van Onselen between 6am and 9am.

The move comes just over a week since the move was first announced, then delayed for a week, before finally happening today, March 9th.

The move also makes Vuka Africa ANN7's only co anchored news bulletin, as everything else is solo anchored.

Vuka Africa was, at inception, a two anchor show with Gerry Rantseli Eldson as the main anchor that did all the interviews while Avumile Qongqo read the headlines. Then, as we all know, Gerry left and Avumile became a full time reporter and Vuka Africa became a straight news bulletin anchored by Peter van Onselen.

With Abigail in the mix, it is expected that there will be more 'soft' news topics on the programme's schedule.

Juliet Newell now takes over Abigail's old slot of Express Lunch, and keeps her own slot, a 30 minute bulletin at 2, as well. Karabo Yibe stays in her late afternoon slot.


 

Re-Launch of Vuka Africa Postponed

Viewers tuning in to ANN7's Vuka Africa this morning, Monday March 2nd, expectin to see Abigail Visagie as co anchor following last weeks announcement that she would be joining the show were left wondering as to where she was.

Well, according to her tweet seen below, the relaunch has been postponed for now with no new date for the change announced. Viewers can, for now, still see Abigail anchoring Express Lunch on weekdays between 12 and 2pm (and the preceding hour).

So seems like I'll be spending a little more time on Express lunch! 😊 Will release details of the launch of the new Vuka Africa asap! #ANN7

— Abigail Visagie (@AbigailVisagie_) March 1, 2015

ANN7 LINEUP SHAKEUP: Abigail Visagie To Vuka Africa

In an unexpected move, ANN7 (DStv 405) will be shaking up its early day schedule by moving current Express Lunch (and Mid Morning Prime) anchor, Abigail Visagie, up to the breakfast show, Vuka Africa.

At Vuka Africa, which airs daily between 6 am and 9am, she will sit alongside longtime Vuka Africa anchor, Peter van Onselen. This now means that Vuka Africa becomes the only ANN7 show to feature two anchors as hosts (which will be interesting to see how the squeezed behind that odd table).

Though both of them may be pushing the move as if it is a promotion, what is actually going on is that Abigail now clears the lunchtime slot, meaning that there will now no longer be anchors that anchor only a mere half an hour show due to the channel having too many weekday anchors and not enough time.

Abigail has, of course, been with ANN7 since inception as one of the many young females the channel had try out on air and has moved around slots a few times before settlingon what is now known as Express Lunch.

It is ecpected that Juliet Newell would be announced as the new Express Lunchhost, though that is not set in stone yet.