Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has taken a firm stand against popular podcaster MacG, following what she described as “online gender-based violence.”
In an official statement released on Friday, 2 May 2025, the department condemned derogatory remarks made by MacG—real name MacGyver Mukwevho—about TV personality and actress Minnie Dlamini during a recent episode of Podcast and Chill. The comments, which surfaced in April, have drawn significant backlash from the public and civil society.
Deputy Minister Letsike said the podcast host’s utterances were not only deeply offensive but also symptomatic of broader societal problems. “There is no room in our democratic Republic for any misogynistic and demeaning utterances that perpetuate patriarchal iterations of gender relations,” she said.
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The ministry commended South Africans and listeners of the podcast who were quick to denounce MacG’s statements, stating that the public outcry signalled a shift in societal consciousness. “We are encouraged that within the ranks of South African society, we have persons who are sober in mind to call out abhorrent tendencies that are a distraction from achieving gender equality,” the statement continued.
Summons to Parliament
In a move signaling the seriousness of the matter, the department has referred MacG’s remarks to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, invoking Section 56 of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to summon individuals to account for actions deemed harmful to public interest.
“The referral will call on the Portfolio Committee to exercise Parliament’s powers in terms of Chapter 5 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act (Act 4 of 2004). Should Mr Mukwevho fail to appear without sufficient cause, the Act provides that he could face a fine or up to 12 months imprisonment, or both,” the department stated.
Further Escalation
The Deputy Minister also revealed plans to escalate the matter to independent oversight bodies, including:
- The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)
- The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE)
- The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA)
In addition, the department has called for a review of possible crimen injuria charges, a legal term in South African law referring to the intentional harming of someone’s dignity.
“This is not a joke or harmless banter,” said Letsike. “It’s a serious example of gender-based abuse, and we must treat it as such.”
Call for Accountability – MacG
The Ministry has also issued a strong call to action directed at digital platforms and broadcasters to take responsibility for the content they host and promote. “We must all hold content creators accountable,” said Letsike. “Broadcasters and platforms must act. The fight for women’s dignity in South Africa continues – and we will not let this slide.”
This is not the first time MacG has faced criticism for controversial content on his podcast. Over the years, Podcast and Chill has grown a massive following, but its off-the-cuff, unfiltered style has also sparked multiple controversies, especially around issues of gender, sexuality, and race.
As the matter gains traction, all eyes are now on Parliament and the relevant commissions to see how South Africa’s legal and institutional framework will respond to a growing concern: the unchecked power of online personalities and the normalisation of harmful rhetoric in the digital space.
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