Dianne Bayley

After more than twelve years with 94.7 Highveld Stereo and 20 years with the Primedia Group, South Africa’s best loved breakfast show host has announced that he will be hanging up the morning mic

Jeremy Mansfield, a name synonymous with The Rude Awakening, told TheMediaOnline: "During my time with the Primedia Group, I believe I have delivered a quality product to the listeners and a highly profitable product to stakeholders.

"The show needs to move forward and I don't see a role for myself in the new product offering. Management and the board have asked if I would assist with off air initiatives, which I am happy to do for the foreseeable future."

Mansfield says that a variety of other opportunities have become available, which he would like to explore. "My last show will be Monday 12 July 2010. On Tuesday 13 July I will be joining the Nelson Mandela Foundation's bike ride to Cape Town to raise awareness for Mandela Day that falls on Madiba's birthday, July 18."

After that, Mansfield has an overseas trip in mind and will be "spending my birthday in the bush with friends" on August 15.
The announcement will come as a shock to his listeners who have, over the years, become adoring fans. "I'm going to miss the listener interaction," Mansfield says, "but I will still be continuing my work in media, which brings another form of interaction."

Mansfield has been approached by CNBC Africa to do a weekly TV show which will offer a layman's look at the financial arena. "The show will bring financial news and information to people in English, rather than the jargon often misunderstood by many," he says.

Both Mansfield and his wife, author Jacqui Thompson, have also been approached by an independent producer to do some environmental television work as a team; and media consultancy may also be in the offering.
In very good health now, Mansfield says: "I am looking forward to taking on some of the exciting and challenging opportunities that have come my way."