[imagesource: Facebook / Heart FM]

On its website, Heart FM calls itself “Cape Town’s biggest independent commercial radio station” and says it’s “long been a trusted name in the Mother City”.

The station hit the headlines last December following the axing of Clarence Ford, who had been with the station for 24 years.

At the time, Ford claimed he was en route to the station’s Green Point studios when programme manager Vernon Nel phoned to tell him he was being let go.

He was told his contract was terminated with immediate effect and pointed to “some run-ins with management” as the major contributing factor.

This, from an IOL report at the time:

Ford’s dismissal stems directly from his revelations in a Weekend Argus Sunday exclusive that bullying by a senior manager resulted in his decision to leave the station…

“I demanded that they (management) rein in the bully and they refused to, or didn’t feel it necessary. I said I can’t respect this kind of behaviour. And if they’re going to remain silent, they would be complicit, and I couldn’t stay. And I made it clear given that scenario.”

Ford had clashed with Denver Apollus, the second most senior manager at Heart FM, who responded by rubbishing any bullying claims.

Fast forward to this weekend and Apollus will now be leaving the station at the end of the month. He claims he’s doing so following an amicable agreement but former employees disagree and speak of a toxic environment.

Again, from IOL:

Insiders claim, Apollus [below] was also behind the axing of other on-air personalities including Diggy Bongz, Irma G, Mark Marshall, and Saya Pierce-Jones.

Image: Supplied to IOL

Apollus was also accused of sexual harassment by Pierce-Jones.

Pierce-Jones relayed the story of an incident during an internal investigation at the statement last year.

Having been asked to talk about working with Apollus, she was left unsatisfied with the station’s response:

“In the middle of my testimony, the current MD verbally reprimanded me for using the word vagina … Apollus and his former MD later refused to attend a sexual harassments and discrimination hearing at the CCMA.”

…“His departure is a relief for those who suffered under his tyranny. But if the rumours of this future radio employer are true, I shudder to think what fresh hell he could unleash on fellow women and LGBTQI+ persons if his behaviour goes unchecked.”

In response, Apollus said he considered Pierce-Jones’ comments to be defamatory and he had handed the matter over to his attorneys.

Yet another reason for those of us who work from home to be thankful. Less workplace toxicity, more all-day wearing of pyjamas.

Spotify over the radio, every day of the week.

[sources:iol&iol]