A group of protesters picketed outside the Green Point studios of Heart 104.9FM on Wednesday, demanding that the “bully bosses” be fired.
The radio station has come under fire after iconic presenter Clarence Ford was dismissed with immediate effect on Monday.
This after the DJ, who has been at Heart for 24 years, announced his intention to step down in February, citing bullying by a senior manager as the reason.
Reports of former employees allegedly being sexually harassed have also shone a light on a “toxic” workplace where management is said to allow GBV to go unpunished.
Reverend June Major-Dolley of the Say His Name campaign, led the group of about 20 protesters.
Reverend June told the Daily Voice: “I organised this march because I know of a female journalist at HeartFM who has been sexually harassed for a long time and then was gagged with a non-disclosure agreement and forced to sign that.
“We are here at HeartFM today to tell them that they need to treat their journalists with respect and dignity and get rid of the perpetrator, and give a public apology to those who have been victimised and harassed by this perpetrator.
“He must be fired. There are still others working there who are afraid to speak out.”
Nazier Paulsen of the EFF also attended the protest: “I came to show solidarity with the victims of corporate bullying and GBV. Also to send a message to the perpetrators that the victims are no longer fighting alone.”
HeartFM general manager, Reneé Redelinghuys, said there was nobody at the offices at the time of the protest as everyone works remotely.
Commenting on Clarence’s allegations, she said “this is not true and devoid of any facts”.
Redelinghuys said the station took a commercial decision not to renew his contract, which had no bearing on any allegations of sexual harassment and bullying.
“It is common practice for radio stations to regularly change their line-up in accordance with ever-changing audience demands. As it is, Clarence Ford has kept his show for 12 years, longer than any other presenter in South Africa.
She added by rekking his bek in a Weekend Argus interview, Clarence had broken the conditions of his contract and “left the station with no alternative but to remove him from his show with immediate effect”.
Responding to the sexual harassment allegations, Redelinghuys confirmed an internal grievance complaint had been lodged.
“Our internal and external independent investigations could not be concluded for lack of supporting evidence.
“It is disingenuous to suggest that the non-disclosure agreement the ex-employee signed related to her sexual harassment claim however.
She added: “The ex-employee was not forced or coerced into signing the agreement as she had legal representation when the settlement agreement was negotiated and signed.
On Wednesday Clarence addressed the issue on Facebook: “My Christmas wish for people suffering bullies in the workplace, is that they deal with it with emotional intelligence.
“Record all your interactions with the bully and the management team that you reported such bullying to...
“Let it never define you! Let it not take you down. Namaste!”
venecia.america@inl.co.za