HEART FM stepped out on the defensive as protesters descended on the station’s studios to protest against new allegations of alleged sexual harassment and bullying of an ex-employee.
Led by rape survivor and activist Reverend June Dolley-Major, the predominantly women-led demonstration was in support of a former station employee who had previously lodged four sexual grievances against the same person who had allegedly bullied ex-radio host Clarence Ford.
According to Dolley-Major, they decided to stand together especially after it emerged that the female ex-employee had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
“We want the victim to know we are with her, we stand behind her, and as long as the perpetrator is still employed at Heart, we will boycott and protest, our voices will be heard.
“A non-disclosure agreement is there to try and silence the victim but we will be a her voice,” said Dolley-Major.
Ford, who last week went public with allegations of bullying from the manager, commended the anti Gender Based Violence (GBV) groups for taking a stand.
“Whenever we can stand against GBV we should,” he said.
Ford said he was shocked at the number of bullying incidents that still took place in the workplace.
“I’ve received so many calls from people who wanted to know what they should do, women being bullied by women, women being bullied by male managers, and all I can say is, make recordings, take notes, but don't be silent,” he added.
Ford who is currently busy with youth empowerment programmes, said he owed all these doors opening to his revelation.
“These are things I wouldn't be able to do while still being on radio. Now I can motivate the youth to be the best they can be, to believe in themselves and also follow their dreams,” he added.
Sandy Lawrence from the Mitchells Plain Crisis Forum who joined the protest said: “If the perpetrator could make someone like Clarence feel the way he did, how did he make the female employee feel?
“It’s a heartless situation because how many more staff are too afraid to speak out? How many secrets are still swept under the rug when the mics are switched off?”
Nazier Paulsen from the EFF was among the few men who joined the protest and expressed his disappointment that the low male turnout.
“Men who don't support causes like this contribute negatively because we are silently sitting back.
“We need to speak up and show up, because at the end of the day silence is violence,” he said.
In a statement, Heart FM’s general manager Reneé Redelinghuys opened up about both the Ford issue and the sexual harassment allegations to Weekend Argus.
According to Redelinghuys, 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 said.
“With respect to allegations of sexual harassment, the station cannot afford to allow a discourse in the media that is not supported by any facts.”
Redelinghuys added that the station took a commercial decision not to renew Ford’s contract.
“For record purposes, it was not one individual’s choice to make this decision, as such matters are made much higher up in the organisation. The station did try to engage with Clarence in a transparent and fair manner so it is unfortunate that he chose to frame his exit around the allegation of bullying. This is not true and devoid of any facts.
“Clarence has refused all of the many attempts made by the station to resolve issues in a constructive manner. Through his recent actions he has broken the conditions of his own contract and has left the station with no alternative but to remove him from his show with immediate effect,” she said.
In respect to the sexual harassment allegations, Redelinghuys said when the internal complaint was raised their response was immediate.
“We view such allegations extremely seriously. Our internal and external independent investigations could not be concluded for lack of supporting evidence,” she said.
“It is disingenuous to suggest that the non-disclosure agreement the ex-employee signed related to her sexual harassment claim however.
“The non-disclosure agreement relates to three separate disciplinary charges brought against the employee. The parties elected to conclude a settlement agreement under the auspices of a commissioner of the CCMA to avoid a disciplinary enquiry against her from proceeding.
“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.”