The longtime radio DJ Nigel Pierce has been abruptly fired and let go from the SABC's Good Hope FM radio station in Cape Town after 15 years, with his last day on-air that was supposed to be 29 March, but saying he was given a termination letter on Friday in front of other staff and abruptly locked out from the SABC's premises.
There's been no statement or comment yet from the SABC.
Good Hope FM (GHFM) listeners were shocked when Nigel Pierce was absent on Friday from his regular Good Hope FM slot.
Nigel Pierce is apparently one of the freelance SABC talent getting fired like Ashraf Garda at the SABC's SAfm radio station at the end of this month.
Nigel Pierce was however allegedly taken off the airwaves and his Radio Police slot, immediately after he told viewers on the air on Wednesday that his last day is going to be 29 March. According to Nigel Pierce, he refused and never signed any confidentiality agreement that was presented to him on Wednesday.
In a series of Instagram video posts on Saturday, Nigel Pierce lashed out at the SABC's Good Hope FM management.
"Wednesday morning at 10 I went in for contract negotiations. I was told my contract would not be renewed. It had been renewed for 15 years, so there's a high expectation of permanency within that particular environment."
"I went on air at 5 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon; told listeners my last show would be 29 March 2019. I again told them on Thursday; nothing malicious. On Friday I got a note, in the foyer of the SABC, saying my services are no longer required for the remainder of my contract."
"I was also locked out of the studio - access denied - I was not told that my access was denied when I reported for duty on Friday afternoon. Sad. Very, very sad," explained Nigel Pierce.
"I do have a few questions for Good Hope FM. How can I be in so-called breach of contract if I didn't sign the confidential letter, and why did Good Hope FM allow me on air when I told them before the meeting on Wednesday that I would not be signing the so-called confidentiality letter?" asked Nigel Pierce in another video.
"When I was moved to the afternoon show, we showed double-digit growth," says Nigel Pierce.
"Did a staff member, or staff members at Good Hope FM have a hand in my dismissal?"
Nigel Pierce alleges that it was claimed that he only gave 10% to his Radio Police show after being moved from the morning to the afternoon and that he was called "a risk to the brand".
Nigel Pierce further alleges that he was often belittled in front of team members during meetings and that it was "no wonder team members started chastising me and denigrating me on the air".
Nigel Pierce also alleges that there were often "veiled threats" which he asked Good Hope FM management to stop doing - of being removed from the show or being moved to other timeslots on the SABC station.
Planning meetings at Good Hope FM were allegedly often haphazard with no agenda and no pre-planning, says Nigel Pierce.
