Award Winning Theatre Personality Frans Swart Locked Out Of His Studio To Present His Radio Programme

Well-known radio and theatre personality Frans Swart was locked out of his Afrikaanse Treffers Studio at East Rand Stereo 93.9FM on Thursday night, preventing him from presenting the programme. Swart is a founder member of East Rand Stereo 93.9FM which has been on air for 20 years this year. He has won an ATKV Veertjie Award - among others - for his programmes AFRIKAANSE TREFFERS, PROFIEL and RENDEZVOUS.

When Swart arrived at the studios of East Rand Stereo 93.9FM, he was being awaited by the Casseldale Community Policing Forum (CPF), which informed him that he would not be allowed to enter the gate. He could therefore not present his popular Afrikaanse Treffers programme. Barries Barnard of the Edelweiss CPF told Swart that they had received a request from East Rand Stereo 93.9FM not to allow Swart into the East Rand Stereo 93.9FM building, and if Swart should try to enter the building by force, they were to call in the SA Police Service. Barnard did not want to say who had made the request.

At that point, Marthie Kannemeyer (the station's Finances, Administration and Human Resources Manager) and Henry Bruinette (the station's Announcer and Acting Programme Manager) came through the gate and handed Swart a letter of suspension. The heading of the letter - "Suspension As Employee Of East Rand Stereo" - clearly indicated that it was not Swart the Presenter who was being suspended.

Swart then asked the CPF to sign a note confirming that he had been there to present his programme and that he had been withheld from doing so. They refused. Swart then asked whether one of the station representatives could sign the note. They replied that they had orders not to sign anything. Swart asked who had issued the order and they refused to answer the question. Then the CPF told Swart that the South African Police Service (SAPS) would sign such a confirmation. Swart told them that they were welcome to call in the SAPS.

After this, Willie Delport arrived in a vehicle and rushed at Swart, screaming at him. Among other things, he told Swart, "You just want to make trouble. You know you are not supposed to be here! Bring Smit (referring to Johan Smit, also a Director of East Rand Stereo) and I'll show you a thing [or two]! I will make both of you level with the gravel. This is enough now! You just carry on and on!" Swart told Delport that he did not want to discuss the matter with him, and went to wait in his car for the SAPS to arrive.

A deputy officer from SAPS arrived 40 minutes later. Swart explained to him what the case was, and asked him to sign a confirmation that Swart was not allowed to present his programme. The police officer did not want to sign the note either, and said that he would testify, should the matter go to court.

Swart was unlawfully suspended as Director of the radio station in October 2014 and suspended as an employee on 23 March 2015, which indicates that he was also suspended as Executive Director of Programmes. Swart's legal team, Nick van Rooyen of UASA and Phil van Blerk have indicated that both suspensions would be opposed. Van Rooyen said that a dispute had already been lodged with the CCMA against the unlawful suspension of Mr Swart as Executive Director of Programmes. Van Blerk said that the legal process opposing the suspension and unlawful removal of Swart as Director in court was already underway

Swart said he was absolutely flabbergasted. "I have been presenting AFRIKAANSE TREFFERS for 18 years, and it is one of my programmes that is very close to my heart. And to be treated in this manner after so many years of selfless service to East Rand Stereo 93.9FM is certainly not a good feeling. It was incredibly humiliating, because there were about 10 people present who saw how I was intimidated not to present my programme. All of this took place on the street, and quite a number of people who drove by called me to ask whether everything was in order. There has been a vendetta against me and I have been victimised since October 2014. Also, my AFRIKAANSE TREFFERS programme was moved, without reason and unilaterally, from its popular slot of Saturdays from 12:00 to 13:00 to Thursday evenings from 18:00 to 19:00. Once listeners are used to a certain slot, it's never pleasant if the slot moved summarily like that."

Swart was also instructed not to record his popular RENDEZVOUS and MUSIEK UIT DIE ROLPRENTE EN MUSIEKBLYSPELE on Sundays. "I am the Chief Executive of Lefra Productions and we are often away on tour. For 20 years, I recorded my programmes when I was not able to broadcast live. Radio stations all over the world record programmes. This was another of those decisions taken to offend me. This is such a pity, because the only people who are losing out are our very loyal listeners who can now no longer listen to these programmes."

Swart was recently on a national tour with the Irish group, Foster and Allen, which performed seven concerts across the country. He is also the director of the popular MY BOETIE SE BOETIE SE BOETIE SE BABA which was performed at the ABSA KKNK festival at Oudtshoorn.