Clarence’s Heart broken: Radio legend quits amid bullying allegations
Sunday nights on the Cape’s airwaves won’t be the same after Clarence Ford announced that he will be signing off from Heart 104.9FM for the last time.
The radio legend, whose career spans 32 years including stints at Good Hope FM and P4, cited bullying by management for his shock decision to quit the station in February next year - after nearly 25 years.
Clarence’s Sunday 6 to 10pm show, called Me Time, features his “Clarrie’s favourites” playlist and is a staple on the Cape Flats.
Clarence, 54, revealed the extent of the alleged bullying in an interview with the Weekend Argus.
“I’ve had some run-ins with management. And there was a particularly bad one in February where I had to draw the line. I cannot be in a space where my values are compromised.
“The February experience related to an attempt to bully on a public platform. And I was on the receiving end. And I don’t take to bullies very kindly. And I met the bully halfway in a language only bullies understand.
“And I expected the response would be, let’s just call it an emotionally intelligent response. And that is exactly what has brought us to this particular time.”
He added: “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.”
Renee Redelinghuis serves as managing director at Heart FM, Denver Apollus is the head of Radio Innovation, and Vernon Nel is the programme manager and Clarence’s line manager.
Renee and Vernon did not respond to Daily Voice’s calls and messages on Sunday.
Clarence revealed the writing was on the wall for him at Heart after his recent contract talks: “I got a WhatsApp message from my immediate superior asking me to come to the boardroom. That was on November 8. And that there would be a discussion about my contract.
“This was quite ominous, because this was a discussion in the boardroom. I thought it related directly to the impasse in February.
“And I knew instinctively what was going to play out. And it did. I have communicated all the issues to the board and to management, in detail. And I think that is where the issues must reside.”
Responding to the allegations of bullying, Apollus admitted to Weekend Argus “Clarence is definitely talking about me” but insisted “I absolutely have no idea why”.
“I don’t even engage much with Clarence. I don’t know where the bullying comes from. He doesn’t even engage with management much.”
Apollus was under the impression Clarence and the station would put out a joint statement.
Clarence said he was offered the Sunday night show only in a new deal, and that “a reposition of the business” meant he was no longer needed in the weekday line-up.
Several staffers, past and present, have told Weekend Argus of a “toxic work environment” at Heart.
Some staff said they were too afraid to speak out publicly for fear of being victimised by management.
A former staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “In 2019, a senior manager made us attend his father’s funeral, providing transport and time-off. He bullied those of us who didn’t go.
“Last year a black female colleague was killed, we had a two-minute moment of silence.
“I couldn’t take his bullying anymore and this year I tried committing suicide. I’m surprised I’m still alive.”
A former on-air personality who asked to remain anonymous said: “I am grateful for everything I’ve learned. The best thing I could have done was to leave. The work environment was ... uncomfortable. There are too many things they (management) allowed to happen that shouldn’t.
“You go to staff functions and the behaviour is gross. A sales rep groped me and a few other girls. He resigned shortly thereafter. He was given the option to resign. This type of behaviour goes unchecked.”
A current employee who asked not to be named said: “The culture internally is something else. Generally there is fear among staffers. If you raise things about the management style, there will be victimisation. It is bullying tactics.
“They remind you that you should be lucky to have your job and you are replaceable. It’s a tough place to be."
Apollus refuted the claims. “Maybe there is an environment that exists that I am not aware of. There’s a very specific culture at the office. It’s a culture of family.
“And we drive people to hold each other accountable and some people subscribe to it, and some don’t.
“I am extremely disappointed that people still feel there is a toxic environment. There is no toxic environment.”
Clarence, who is gearing up for his final weeks with the station, said this had been “a tiring year”.
“Both my wife and I had Covid. She’s had cancer, she’s survived cancer, our dog had an incurable disease, and it’s been really trying on that front.
“I’ve not had leave, I’ve been in hospital with Covid. So I’ve not really had a break from radio.”
He said he didn't have “any ill feelings” about his exit.
“I have made complete peace with it. I am actually quite looking forward to the prospect of the future beyond Heart. A future that I have maybe not given too much attention to, and that future talks to the entrepreneurial person that I am.
“I’ve wanted to step out and create more space and pursue such entrepreneurial adventures and now I have the opportunity to do that.
“For now I am going to up my game and just deliver the best of me in what remains of my time on Heart FM.”
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