There’ll be broken hearts across the Cape at the end of this month.
Heart FM has announced that their popular morning sports anchor, Tapfuma Makina, is leaving the station after nearly 13 years on air.
In an emotional announcement on the show yesterday morning, host Aden Thomas broke the news to listeners.
Barely able to speak, Aden, Julian Cranford and Tapfuma shared the shocking news in a live Zoom session.
Tapfuma, 37, started at Heart in 2009 fresh out of university; his deep, smooth voice won over the hearts of many – especially female listeners – and secured his celebrity status.
He first worked the graveyard shift before landing a spot doing weekend sports reporting, and then Drive with Diggy before his final slot with the Heart Breakfast team.
Taps will officially join the etv channel full-time where he will be a sports presenter from 1 August.
Signing off, he said: “This wasn’t an easy decision, Heart’s audience and my colleagues, have genuinely felt like a family to me.
“But I have an opportunity to significantly expand my role in television in a way that’ll bring growth and new, exciting challenges. I simply can’t do both properly at the same time.”
Heart FM’s MD, Renee Redelinghuys, says: “Tapfuma exemplifies the attitude and values that have made Heart the metro’s biggest station. But we’re also so happy for him that he can expand his horizons and evolve his career. We’re proud of his success.”