SuperSport Rugby World Cup anchor and Jacaranda 94.2 breakfast host Darren Scott has resigned amid a racial row, according to a report on Thursday.
Two days before the start of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand on Friday, Scott decided to step down after allegedly calling a colleague a k****r at a Jacaranda 94.2 team-building event over the weekend.
SuperSport spokesperson Clinton van der Berg told Beeld newspaper that Neil Andrews and Peter Davies would take over as presenters.
Van der Berg told the South African Press Association that Scott had been requested, and been granted, an indefinite leave of absence.
“We are aware of this whole situation and granted the leave,” Van der Berg said.
Jacaranda 94.2 spokesperson Jenny Griesel confirmed his departure from the radio station, where he hosted the Just Plain breakfast show.
Scott called Beeld newspaper on Wednesday to say that he had left SuperSport and the radio station.
His lawyer, Les Morison, later called the Afrikaans daily to apologise on Scott’s behalf for the phone call, during which Scott reportedly swore.
Morison said Scott’s outburst at the team building event was directed at his colleague, named by Beeld as Africa Tshoaedi, who allegedly owed him money.
“People were socialising and drinking in the bar area. The colleague [Tshoaedi] also went to the bar and then Scott said, people who had not paid their debts were not welcome. Tshoaedi then left, but later returned. Scott saw that as a taunt, and used strong words … and called him the k-word,” said Morison.
Morison said Scott was “extremely sorry” about what had happened.
Tshoaedi told Beeld he did not want to comment. – Sapa