'I remain a proud lesbian': deputy minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike addresses gender identity controversy
The controversy arose after Letsike spoke out against podcaster MacGyver 'MacG' Mukwevho for making derogatory comments about media personality Minnie Dlamini.
Mukwevho, in a recent podcast, suggested the reason Dlamini's partners left her was due to the unpleasant scent of her private parts.
Letsike called for Mukwevho to appear before parliament and account for his utterances.
She faced a public backlash, with some accusing her of prioritising certain issues. The criticism escalated into personal attacks, with some questioning her sexuality and gender identity.
In a statement on X, Letsike affirmed her identity as a lesbian.
'I remain a proud lesbian woman even in times like these,' she said.
'I used to rush to defend myself against attacks or false accusations but now I watch to see who believes it. The deeper one dives, the more one discovers the rot in society. We don't give up, we continue to stand up for a just society.'
Letsike has been open about her sexuality for years and is a known LGBTI activist. She married her wife Lucy in 2018 and the couple have a daughter.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
23-06-2025
- IOL News
G20: Civil society must make meaningful contributions in order to shape policy development
Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, urged civil society organisations to ensure their voices resonate in the lead-up to the G20 Summit set to take place later this year. Image: Filed Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has called on civil society organisations represented at the C20 South Africa launch in Sandton to make sure their voices are heard. Letsike who delivered her message to the C20 South Africa launch virtually with a message directed at women, children and persons with disability said no one should be left behind in ensuring that South Africa's hosting of the G20 Summit later this year is a success. C20, which is a gathering of various civil society organisations across 14 working groups, tasked with developing policy proposals to be presented to government comes just over 23 weeks before South Africa is set to be the first African country to host the G20 Summit Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Women and gender equity, people to people interaction and solidarity, poverty alleviation and food sustainability, democratic governance, civic space, anti-corruption and access to justice-- are some of the key working groups tasked with policy development ahead of the summit. "I stand before you honoured that South Africa is set to host the G20 Summit later this year. For South Africa, this is not a box-ticking exercise. It is an opportunity to reshape the global landscape, and we must adopt a spirit of no G20 presidency is guided by strong principles, and we must leave no one behind in our bid to restore dignity of our people and be the moral centre of multilaterism. "We must be the dreamers and doers, not in abstract terms but in concrete terms and our dreams must be translated into concrete actions across all the working groups, "she said. Dr Mathole Motshekga during the feedback session of the C20 South Africa launch at The Capital on the Park in Sandton on Monday. Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers With an emphasis on inclusivity and gender equality, Letsike also called on the working groups to make meaningful contributions in order to shape policy development on the global stage. The C20, a collective of diverse civil society organisations based across 14 working groups, aims to develop policy proposals for submission to the government as South Africa gears up to host the G20 Summit. "The disability inclusion stream and all these working streams are not intended to be for box-ticking exercise as we believe that those closest to the pain must be the closest to power and the C20 South Africa must bring solutions that bring integrated response to these communities. "In essence, we must move from paper to power and ensure the tG20 budget is inclusive and leaves no one behind... We must track this budget and demand accountability on violence against children and women and ensure civil society is not consulted but co-governs," she said.
The Star
05-06-2025
- The Star
How South Africa's Youth Month aims to empower young people through skills development
Siyabonga Sithole | Published 1 day ago Minister in the Presidency, responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, and her deputy, Mmapaseka "Steve" Letsike, led the launch of the Youth Month programme for the year in Soweto on Tuesday. Image: Supplied Skills development and an inclusive and youth-oriented economy were some of the big talking points at the launch of this year's Youth Month programme in Soweto. The Minister in the Presidency responsible for women, youth and people with disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, her deputy, Mmapaseka "Steve" Letsike, and City of Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero, led a multi-pronged programme to kick-off Youth Month during a ceremony held at the Hector Peterson Memorial and Uncle Tom's Hall in Orlando West, Soweto. Reflecting on the historical significance of the uprisings, renowned activist Seth Mazibuko, who is one of the few remaining faces of the uprising, announced plans from his foundation to commemorate the pivotal moment in South Africa's Struggle for freedom. Activities will include a significant march involving eight schools that participated in the uprising, as well as the unveiling of "50 untold stories of June 16". "Indeed, there will be a march that will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the June 16 uprising, which will involve eight schools that took part in the uprisings. There is also a plan to launch the 50 untold stories of June 16, which will be stories told by some of the unsung heroes of the June 16 massacre. These include people who are not necessarily from Soweto but other parts of the province and country," Mazibuko said. Speaking to the media ahead of the launch programme, Chikunga said preparations for the celebration, developing a skilled South African youth, is an important aspect of ensuring that young people feel included in the skills and economic endeavours to ensure they are well-prepared for the future. "What we are going to be doing, from June this year to June next year, is to look at skills development for the future because some of the current skills may become redundant. We need to revitalise some of the skills so that young people with skills that are no longer in demand in terms of the market need, something can be done for those individuals . We have all these companies that are here who are displaying and exhibiting what they can do for young people," she stated. The minister's sentiments were echoed by Morero, who stressed the importance of improving the city's economy in order to create jobs and business opportunities for young people. "The generation of 1976 fought so that you and I can be free, so that we can celebrate free education in our lifetime, and we must ensure that education is free in the true sense of the word so that we can empower future generations and ensure that we have the necessary skills for young people to contribute to economic growth and generate economic growth for South Africa," Morero stated. [email protected]
IOL News
03-06-2025
- IOL News
How South Africa's Youth Month aims to empower young people through skills development
Minister in the Presidency, responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, and her deputy, Mmapaseka "Steve" Letsike, led the launch of the Youth Month programme for the year in Soweto on Tuesday. Image: Supplied Skills development and an inclusive and youth-oriented economy were some of the big talking points at the launch of this year's Youth Month programme in Soweto. The Minister in the Presidency responsible for women, youth and people with disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, her deputy, Mmapaseka "Steve" Letsike, and City of Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero, led a multi-pronged programme to kick-off Youth Month during a ceremony held at the Hector Peterson Memorial and Uncle Tom's Hall in Orlando West, Soweto. Reflecting on the historical significance of the uprisings, renowned activist Seth Mazibuko, who is one of the few remaining faces of the uprising, announced plans from his foundation to commemorate the pivotal moment in South Africa's Struggle for freedom. Activities will include a significant march involving eight schools that participated in the uprising, as well as the unveiling of "50 untold stories of June 16". "Indeed, there will be a march that will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the June 16 uprising, which will involve eight schools that took part in the uprisings. There is also a plan to launch the 50 untold stories of June 16, which will be stories told by some of the unsung heroes of the June 16 massacre. These include people who are not necessarily from Soweto but other parts of the province and country," Mazibuko said. Speaking to the media ahead of the launch programme, Chikunga said preparations for the celebration, developing a skilled South African youth, is an important aspect of ensuring that young people feel included in the skills and economic endeavours to ensure they are well-prepared for the future. "What we are going to be doing, from June this year to June next year, is to look at skills development for the future because some of the current skills may become redundant. We need to revitalise some of the skills so that young people with skills that are no longer in demand in terms of the market need, something can be done for those individuals. We have all these companies that are here who are displaying and exhibiting what they can do for young people," she stated. The minister's sentiments were echoed by Morero, who stressed the importance of improving the city's economy in order to create jobs and business opportunities for young people. "The generation of 1976 fought so that you and I can be free, so that we can celebrate free education in our lifetime, and we must ensure that education is free in the true sense of the word so that we can empower future generations and ensure that we have the necessary skills for young people to contribute to economic growth and generate economic growth for South Africa," Morero stated. [email protected]
