Bid to haul MacG to Parliament slammed as populism

EFF MP, Sihle Lonzi, has slammed Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mampaseka Letsike’s request for podcaster, Mcgyver “MacG” Mukhwebo, to be summoned to Parliament as grandstanding and populism.

Lonzi argued that issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) often receive attention based on how well-connected the individuals involved are, while equally pressing concerns are overlooked on ordinary citizens.

The host of Podcast and Chill, MacG, is once again at the centre of controversy after he suggested that media personality, Minnie Dlamini, may have hygiene issues, implying this is why she “can’t keep a man.”

The podcaster has faced sustained backlash over the years for allegedly perpetuating misogyny and sexual harassment.

In response to the latest controversy, Letsike approached Parliament’s Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, requesting that MacG be summoned to appear before it.

During the heated exchange, Lonzi questioned the selective prioritisation of issues by the committee. He highlighted the rise in teenage pregnancies, high youth unemployment rate, the rape of seven-year-old Cwecwe, and the acquittal of alleged sexual predator, televangelist Timothy Omotoso, due to alleged failures by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

“If this is not selective activism, why must Parliament be dragged into this particular case?” he asked.

While Lonzi acknowledged that the committee’s intent may be genuine, he criticised the approach, suggesting it undermines established institutions such as the Commission for Gender Equality.

“When the Minister runs to this committee, it’s a declaration of no confidence in their own department,” he added.

ActionSA MP, Dr Kgosi Letlape, called for a crimen injuria case to be laid against MacG, arguing that legal consequences are essential in the fight against GBV.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in addressing GBV is the absence of accountability,” Letlape said.

He says the committee must seek legal advice and not settle for an apology.

“There are different spheres of government and we should be part of the complainant as the aggrieved party and not the one that hears how we are aggrieved. We should be on the side of the victim and that is all the women of this country,” he adds.

“I don’t want us to sit in as situation where there is a lot of pressure and somebody comes and apologises and we are not getting the law to adjudicate on this matter.”

Letlape also expressed concern that the matter could be dismissed too easily under public pressure.

“We cannot allow a situation where someone apologises under pressure and the matter ends there. The law must take its course.”

He further argued that summoning MacG to Parliament would be ineffective, pointing out that the Legislature lacks the authority to impose sanctions.

“I feel this is a crime against every woman and it should be tried in a court of law,” he asserted.

Letlape stressed that the committee must also play an educational role, ensuring that men understand they do not have dominion over women’s bodies.

His stance is deeply personal owing to the fact that his daughter, a pastry chef, Thembekile Letlape, was murdered allegedly by her partner in her Johannesburg apartment in May last year.

The committee has decided not to summon MacG at this stage, opting instead to seek legal advice.

It expected to reconvene next week to consider the way forward. Written by Lindiwe Mpanza