DJ Cleo’s Radio 2000 Resignation Explained From the SIM Card Incident to His Suspension

• DJ Cleo left Radio 2000 after a suspension that sources close to the station described as an overreaction to an innocent mistake
• The incident reportedly began when he removed a SIM card from a station tablet during a live show and accidentally took it home
• Sources say Radio 2000's programme manager suspended him for three weeks and asked him to explain why he should not be dismissed

DJ Cleo's tenure at Radio 2000 has come to an abrupt end following a chain of events that began with a flat tablet battery and ended with his resignation. Sources inside the SABC station claim a minor misunderstanding around a SIM card spiralled into a formal suspension, pushing the award-winning music producer to walk away from a role he reportedly loved.

How the SIM card incident unfolded

According to multiple station insiders, DJ Cleo arrived at Radio 2000 on a Friday evening roughly three weeks ago to host his show, ‘The Eskhaleni Party,’ only to find that the tablet used for playing voice notes had a dead battery. Unable to charge the device in time, he transferred the SIM card into his personal phone so the show could continue uninterrupted. When the broadcast ended, he left the building without realising the SIM card was still in his handset.

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Station management later raised the matter with on-air staff, and DJ Cleo immediately owned up to the mistake and apologised. Rather than accepting his explanation, Radio 2000 programme manager Khayakazi Koto suspended him for three weeks on the basis that he had removed SABC property without authorisation. She reportedly went further, instructing him to show cause why his contract should not be terminated.

Sources defend DJ Cleo

Colleagues who spoke to Africa Daily expressed frustration at how the matter was handled. One source pointed out that the station lacked a functioning charger for its own tablet, leaving on-air talent to improvise. "Legally and simply put, they don't have tools of trade and rely on contractors to charge their tablet, this is embarrassing," the source said.

A classmate of DJ Cleo's at Wits University, where he is studying law, described the DJ as deeply hurt by the suspension. The classmate noted that DJ Cleo frequently skipped lectures to fill in for colleagues who were absent or unwell.

Another colleague suggested the station's handling of the situation may have been motivated by financial concerns rather than principle. Publicly, DJ Cleo attributed his departure to a desire to refocus on his music career. When contacted for comment, he directed enquiries to a statement he had posted on social media to that effect. The SABC's Head of Communications, Mmoni Ngubane, confirmed his exit.

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DJ Cleo announced resignation from Radio 000

DJ Cleo shared a formal resignation letter on X, announcing his last show on Radio 2000 would air on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

The veteran DJ cited his music career, family, academic journey and mental health as reasons behind the decision.

Source: Briefly News