Darren Scott dead at 61 after losing battle against stage four malignant skin cancer

by Thinus Ferreira

Darren Scott has died after losing his battle against stage four malignant skin cancer. He was 61.

The radio DJ was undergoing immunotherapy and made his last on-screen TV appearance last month on kykNET (DStv 144), He leaves behind his ex-wife Sarah-Kate Accetta and his sons who are living in the United States.

"It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of a Hot 102.7 radio legend. Earlier today, Darren Scott lost his battle to cancer," the radio station says in a statement.

"The last few months have been difficult for Darren with numerous hospital stays."

"Darren will be remembered for radio, wit, creativity and charitable work. He will be missed by all of us at Hot 102.7 and listeners across the country. Our condolences go out to Darren's boys Mark and Matthew, and the rest of the family."

Sarah-Kate Accetta says "There are no words to truly express the depth of my gratitude to every single person who donated, prayed and stood besides him during the fight of his life."

"Your generosity through the Back-a-Buddy campaign didn't just fund treatment; it gave Darren hope. It gave him dignity, and it gave him the profound gift of feeling so loved," she said about the campaign she had started last year to help raise funds for his cancer treatment.

This campaign managed to raise R515 350 for Darren Scott's medical cancer treatment bills.

Darren Scott who had presented on Capital Radio, Radio Bop, 702, M-Net, SuperSport, 5FM, East Coast Radio, Jacaranda 94.2 and Hot 91.9FM where he was heard until his death today - didn't have medical aid cover when he came back to South Africa last year two years after he had emigrated.

"I watched him, day after day, scroll through your messages in disbelief, humbled, overwhelmed, moved to tears. He couldn't believe that so many people cared. Thank you for giving him that in his final months."

Darren Scott was first diagnosed in 1986 with melanoma that he blamed on the sun.

"The last one was inside my aorta, heart," he said.

"The doctor got it out. I've never had chemo, never had radiation and just carried on with my life. I've never let it sit on my mind, never let it weigh on me - just carried on with life."

About his last cancer battle, Darren Scott said "When this one happened, I was in the USA".

"I went overseas and three months into my trip there, there was a lump under my right arm and I knew immediately in 2023 I wasn't clear. I found a lump which was a secondary to that one on my back."

ALSO READ:  Darren Scott says cancer battle 'is rough' as he continues to do radio to pay medical bills 

Darren Scott says cancer battle 'is rough' as he continues to do radio to pay medical bills

Thinus Ferreira

The radio presenter and former TV presenter Darren Scott who returned to South Africa last year to work for money to pay for treatment after he was diagnosed with cancer yet again, says "it's rough" and that he's been living alone working on radio just to pay his medical bills.

The 61-year-old - who presented on Capital radio, 702, M-Net, SuperSport, 5FM, East Coast Radio, Jacaranda 94.2 and Hot 91.9FM where he is currently heard on Sundays - didn't have medical aid cover when he came back to South Africa last year two years after he had emigrated.

Darren Scott has had several bouts with cancer since 1986 and is currently undergoing immunotherapy, with a BackaBuddy campaign that his ex-wife Sarah-Kate Accetta started last year to try and help raise funds for his cancer treatment.

"It's not my first rodeo," Scott said on Tuesday night, speaking in English in a late-night interview on the Afrikaans talk show Laataand met Rian on kykNET (DStv 144).

About his latest cancer, he explained "This is a bit of a different story".

"Normally, when I have had cancers, I've had them cut out by my various doctors and oncologists."

He was first diagnosed in 1986 with melanoma that he blames on the sun, noting, "Absolutely it caused it. With me, [and] a friend of mine who died a year later of exactly the same thing - Liam Flanningan"

"The last one was inside my aorta, heart. The doctor got it out. I've never had chemo, never had radiation and just carried on with my life. I've never let it sit on my mind, never let it weigh on me - just carried on with life."

About his latest cancer scare, he said "When this one happened, I was in the USA".

Opening up about his previous cancer battles, he explained that "You get a very aggressive cancer called a nodular. The one on my chin was a nodular. This was a big one, it was very aggressive. You basically get told you have a 30% chance of making it five years".

"So I had another one on my back in 2022 and I knew it immediately because I was driving one day ... blood on the floor. Go to my doctor, takes it out, comes back and you know the doctor's message: 'I'm so sorry,' and you know that it's bad."

"And that was a nodular. I had it taken out, I went for a scan after taking it out to see if it's spread or if it's still anywhere and the doctor said the scan is clear."

I went overseas and three months into my trip there, there was a lump under my right arm and I knew immediately in 2023 I wasn't clear. I found a lump which was a secondary to that one on my back.

Expensive cancer cost

Darren Scott revealed that his cancer cost is R160 000 per immunotherapy treatment, every six weeks.

"They've reduced mine to every three weeks which is R80 000 which comes to the same difference," he said.

"I've never been the kind of person who said 'I'm not going to make it but what scared me is when the doctor told me that 'You need to get this treatment as soon as possible otherwise you're going to suffocate to death'. And I said 'What kind of time you're talking about?' And he said you've got to get this stuff in a couple of weeks."

"And its R80 000. Where am I just suddenly fork that out?"

Scott said "Doctors - and when it comes to cancer - the first thing is always the fear that puts into people. You'll do whatever they say - 'Okay you need to go on chemo and radiation'. The very first guy told me that - you need to go on chemo and radiation."

"I was a young 22-year-old. I just started a TV career, I've just been given a job at M-Net. I had a radio career that was going strong. I basically said 'eff you'. I didn't want to do it. I said I'll take my chances."

He explained that he didn't want to do chemotherapy because "I've seen my grandmother on chemo. I've seen Liam Flannigan - I've seen what happened to him on chemo. I just don't want to go out that way. Those two alone."

Living alone, doing radio to pay cancer bills

On why he's back in South Africa, Darren Scott said "I returned to work so I can earn money to carry on with the treatment", while his two boys remain in the United States.

"My ex-wife has been amazing. The boys love it there. They are so happy. They are thriving in that environment. 

"It's rough at the moment. It really is. It kinda hits you. It's hard because my family's away and that hits me every day. My two boys and my dad - thousands of miles away."

I live alone here now and I work radio to cover bills," he remarked.

"The radio station has been good in certain ways but they've also said 'Listen, we can't keep you on air if you can't speak properly and that is also for me - having pride and having done radio so long - not being able to speak properly is like 'wow'. It's hard. So there's a lot going on."

"I'm not an emotional person but I have been very the last few weeks. I take it day by day, trying to be strong. I hate asking for money," he said.

Darren Scott gone from SuperSport's Rugby World Cup coverage after his shocking k-word laden rascist rant.

Darren Scott is gone from SuperSport's upcoming Rugby World Cup coverage after his loud rascist rant calling a radio colleague the k-word and he will no longer form a part of SuperSport's rugby coverage as a key anchor.

According to SuperSport is not clear when Darren Scott will be appearing on television again.

Darren Scott has been replaced by SuperSport presenters Peter Davies and Neil Andrews for the Rugby World Cup matches starting Friday.

In a statement to TV with Thinus the sports broadcaster says ''SuperSport has granted Darren Scott an indefinite leave of absence from his role as a presenter on its channels, in order that he may focus his attention on personal matters, which have been the subject of recent media reports. This follows an earlier discussion between Scott and SuperSport.''

''Neil Andrews and Peter Davies will assume his duties for the duration of the World Cup, while Arnold Geerdts will host Boots and All.''