South African media personality Minnie Dlamini has officially filed a R2.5 million lawsuit against controversial Podcast and Chill hosts MacGyver “MacG” Mukwevho and Sol Phenduka, citing allegations of hate speech, harassment, and gender-based discrimination.
According to a report by Sunday World, the lawsuit was filed at the Equality Court, with Dlamini accusing the podcasters of repeatedly making misogynistic and dehumanising remarks about her during several episodes of their widely followed podcast.
The Allegations Against MacG and Sol
In the episode that sparked the latest outrage, MacG and Sol reportedly speculated on Dlamini’s failed relationships, with MacG suggesting “hygiene issues” might have played a role. Dlamini condemned the remarks as “offensive and degrading,” claiming they amounted to a public attack on her dignity as a woman.
“This isn’t just about me. It’s about holding people accountable for normalising the degradation of women under the guise of entertainment,” Dlamini said in a public statement. “It’s time we draw a line.”
Her legal team argues that the remarks are in clear violation of South Africa’s anti-discrimination and gender equality laws, and should not be tolerated on public platforms.
Details of Minnie Dlamini’s R2.5 Million Claim
The lawsuit includes:
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R1 million for emotional distress and impairment of dignity.
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R1.5 million as a donation to a women’s rights organisation (Women for Change).
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A court-approved public apology to Dlamini and women at large.
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50 hours of gender sensitisation training for MacG and Sol.
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100 hours of community service at institutions dealing with gender-based violence.
Background: A Pattern of Alleged Harassment
Dlamini revealed that the verbal attacks began years ago, but worsened after she publicly supported actress Amanda du-Pont in 2021, during du-Pont’s allegations of abuse against rapper Jub Jub.
Since then, Dlamini alleges that MacG and Sol have made her a frequent target for innuendo, mockery, and disrespectful commentary, prompting her to finally take legal action.
MacG’s Apology Dismissed by Minnie
While MacG issued a public apology in a later episode of Podcast and Chill, Minnie Dlamini dismissed it, stating:
“Apologies without accountability mean nothing. This is not a mistake; it’s a pattern. And patterns need to be broken through justice, not just PR.”
Public Reaction and Industry Implications
The case has sparked intense debate on freedom of speech vs hate speech, particularly in the entertainment and podcasting industry. While some fans defend the podcast’s freewheeling style, others praise Dlamini for taking a stand against gender-based cyberbullying and the normalisation of misogyny in media.
If the court rules in Dlamini’s favour, it could set a major legal precedent in holding public figures accountable for gender-based verbal abuse under the pretense of entertainment.
