Remembering radio icon Darren Scott
Darren Scott, the beloved South African radio personality, has died after a long battle with cancer. Remembered for his passion for broadcasting and his impact on the community, this tribute reflects on his life, career, and the love he inspired in those around him.
Radio personality Darren Scott passed away on Tuesday morning
Image: Facebook
Radio and television sports personality Darren Scott died on Tuesday morning after battling cancer for decades.
Scott, 61, was first diagnosed with melanoma – an aggressive kind of skin cancer – almost 40 years ago.
Last year Scott marked 40 years in radio and was inducted into the Radio Awards Hall of Fame.
The father of two was more recently presenting The Just Plain Drive on HOT 102.7 FM.
His ex-wife, Sarah-Kate Accetta, and a friend earlier this year turned to crowdfunding through Backabuddy where they made a plea for donations which enbled Scott to receive immunotherapy treatment to treat the cancer.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Accetta wrote: "It is with the heaviest, most shattered heart that I share… Darren has passed from this earth into the loving arms of Jesus.
"There are no words to truly express the depth of my gratitude to every single person who donated, prayed, and stood beside him during the fight of his life. Your generosity through the BackaBuddy 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.
"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," wrote Accetta.
HOT 102.7FM in a tribute message said: "Earlier today, we learned of the passing of Darren Scott — a beloved voice on our airwaves, a passionate broadcaster, and a longtime member of the HOT 102.7FM family. Darren lost his long battle with stage 4 malignant melanoma, after fighting the disease with grit, humour, and determination for years."
It further stated that Scott was a gifted communicator, a music lover, a sports encyclopaedia, a deeply spiritual soul, and a loyal friend.
Over the course of four decades, he made his mark at some of the country’s most recognisable stations — from Radio Bop and 5FM to Jacaranda, East Coast Radio, and eventually HOT 102.7 FM, where his voice became a cornerstone of the brand.
"No matter where he went, Darren brought a sense of fun, professionalism, and total commitment to the craft. Darren was the most dedicated radio person I’ve ever known. At one stage he was doing two live shows a day — breakfast in one province and drive in another. Who does six hours of live radio every day? Darren Scott,” said HOT 102.7 FM Breakfast presenter Simon Parkinson.
"From the earliest days of HOT 102.7FM, Darren’s energy was foundational. When we started the original HOT brand, Darren was the first person I called. And he said, ‘I’m in. Let’s go. I saw the happiness in Darren again,” said HOT 102.7 FM founder Lloyd Madurai.
Long time friend and former colleague Alan Khan said it was an immensely sad day to receive news that Scott had passed on.
"To say that he was the finest broadcaster that I knew would be an understatement. Darren was much more than that to me. A friend, a brother and a mentor. He loved radio, he loved people, he loved making a positive difference but most of all, he loved his sons Mark and Matthew.
"Rest in Peace Darren. Thank you for supporting me, for encouraging me and for calling me that Monday evening, asking me to meet you at Capital Radio 604. A call that changed my life. Thank you for the guidance, the advice and for the opportunities over the years," said Khan.
In an interview with the Sunday Tribune in March, Scott said since 1986 his body has been like a “pinball machine” when it came to this disease.
“Discounting the numerous very early stage melanomas, which have been removed without any follow-up treatment necessary, I’ve had five more serious ones, at a more advanced stage.
“Of the advanced stage ones, apart from the first which appeared as a mole on my lower back, two have been ‘nodular’ skin surface melanomas, two have been secondaries that made their way into my lymph nodes, and one was found in my left lung, adjacent to the aortic arch. As a result, I’ve had a part of my lung removed, a sizable section of my chin, and a block dissection of all my lymph glands in my left groin,” he said.
He said he was so humbled and amazed by the Backabuddy response.