Latest news with #Letsike
TimesLIVE
09-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
'I remain a proud lesbian': deputy minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike addresses gender identity controversy
Deputy minister for women, youth and persons with disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has responded to social media users questioning her gender identity. 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.
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Parliament declines to summon MacG over ‘disgusting' utterances as Minnie Dlamini consults her lawyer
The Podcast & Chill host's remarks are 'unchecked freedom of speech'. Parliament has declined to summon podcast host MacGyver 'MacG' Mukwevho to explain his controversial comments about media personality Minnie Dlamini. Mukwevho has faced backlash for remarks made on his widely followed platform, Podcast & Chill, regarding Dlamini's relationship break-up. He made an inappropriate insinuation about her genital odour. Government slams MacG over Minnie Dlamini remarks The incident prompted Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka 'Steve' Letsike, to call on Parliament to summon Mukwevho. Letsike strongly condemned the remarks, describing them as misogynistic and vulgar. She further argued that the podcast host's repeated use of 'derogatory language' towards women was not only offensive, but constituted online gender-based violence (GBV). The deputy minister urged MultiChoice, which airs Podcast & Chill through a partnership, to take action against Mukwevho. ALSO READ: Parliament to summon MacG after comments about Minnie Dlamini She also indicated plans to refer the matter to the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), the South African Human Rights Commission, and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) for investigation. In addition, Letsike's department is considering filing a case of crimen injuria against Mukwevho with the South African Police Service (Saps). The controversy has reignited public debate on whether podcasts should be subject to regulation. Minister wants MacG summoned by Parliament In her presentation to Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Letsike defended her call to action, stating that Mukwevho's remarks reflected 'unchecked freedom of speech'. The deputy minister contended that his 'vile' and 'disgusting' utterances violated Dlamini's constitutional rights and undermined her dignity. She said the podcast host should be compelled to withdraw his statements. 'I will also refer this matter to the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies and its department thereof to ramp up efforts towards regulation of online media platforms such as podcasts to ensure that the messaging on these platforms adhere to the constitution and other pieces of legislation that govern what is acceptable speech is our society as empowered by the right to freedom of expression,' Letsike said. READ MORE: Minnie Dlamini breaks silence following controversial MacG comments Letsike emphasised that Mukwevho's comments were 'soft violence' and contributed to the objectification of women's bodies, promoting sexism. 'We raise these issues sharply because Mr Mukwevho weighs considerable influence in South Africa's social discourse with a following of at least 1.5 million viewers subscribed to his YouTube channel.' She also stressed that the issue was not about cancel culture and revealed that Dlamini was consulting her legal counsel. 'She will inform us on her action if they do open a case.' Watch the meeting below: MPs deliberate Later, Members of Parliament (MPs) expressed their views on the request to summon Mukwevho. ANC MP Meagan Chauke-Adonis warned against politicising the issue, but stressed the importance of addressing it. 'Must there be physical bodily harm before this portfolio committee then responds and acts? 'This is something where once again we perpetuate a culture of cyberbullying, which we have been very silent on,' Chauke-Adonis said. ANC MP Maakgalake Pholwane supported the committee's involvement, while DA MP Angel Khanyile warned that summoning the podcast host would be an overreach. 'When I look at this case I do believe that Saps has a role to play. 'I do believe that there's a good chance of opening a case of crimen injuria and a civil claim as well, which I also believe may bring that apology,' Khanyile said. READ MORE: MacG's commenting goes beyond the bounds of free speech ActionSA MP Kgosi Letlape supported seeking a legal opinion on whether the committee could lay a criminal charge, a motion backed by Patriotic Alliance (PA) MP Jasmine Petersen. 'I feel this is a crime against all women and it should be tried in a court of law,' Letlape said. EFF MP Sihle Lonzi was critical of the deputy minister, accusing her of 'grandstanding', 'populism' and 'selective activism'. While acknowledging that Mukwevho's comments were 'distasteful', he questioned the mechanisms being used. Lonzi highlighted that institutions like the CGE, which falls under Letsike's department, are mandated to handle such matters. 'Have they failed to deliver on their mandates?' the EFF MP asked. Committee won't call MacG over Minnie Dlamini remarks Ultimately, the committee resolved not to summon Mukwevho. 'I think the majority of members are not in favour of us proceeding as the honorable minister, deputy minister had requested us to do,' the committee's chairperson Liezl van der Merwe said. She pointed out that Dlamini had not approached Parliament nor laid a criminal case. 'I think all of you have touched on this point that if we do decide it is our mandate to proceed with hearing one case of cyber-bullying, it would mean that this portfolio committee would have to extend that to every other person because they cannot be selective in choosing one case.' READ MORE: MacG says his partnership with MultiChoice is 'a natural evolution' despite it being criticised as a lazy move by the broadcaster Van der Merwe said the committee had limited capacity to handle such matters. 'There are other instruments that we can utilise,' she said, adding that a legal opinion would be sought. 'We will support your complaints, honourable deputy minister, to the BCCSA. We will also encourage you to finalise your discussions with Ms Dlamini and to encourage her to open a case with Saps and to follow due processes. 'We also will support the approach and the intervention to lay this matter or to send this matter as a complaint to the Commission for Gender Equality and we think that is the right approach,' Van der Merwe concluded.
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Sihle Lonzi criticises Deputy Minister Letsike for her response to MacG's podcast remarks
EFF MP Sihle Lonzi calls out ANC 'clowning', slamming Deputy Minister Letsike for political grandstanding in the MacG saga and reminding her that ministers cannot legally summon citizens to Parliament. Image: Sihle Lonzi/ X Sihle Lonzi, Member of Parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and President of the Student Command, has criticised Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike. He accused her of misunderstanding the principle of separation of powers and "clowning" in her response to derogatory comments made by podcaster Macgyver "MacG" Mukwevho. Reacting on X (formerly Twitter), Lonzi said: 'This ANC Minister is CLOWNING. There are three SEPARATE arms of the State. The Executive, the Legislature (Parliament) and the Judiciary. A Minister, representing the Executive cannot 'summon' anyone to Parliament. If you are going to grandstand, at least be smart about it!' This follows a public outcry over MacG's comments on Podcast and Chill, where he crudely speculated about the reasons behind media personality Minnie Dlamini's past break-ups, saying, 'maybe her coochie smells or something.' Deputy Minister Letsike condemned the remarks as 'nauseating in its vulgarity' and labeled them as online gender-based violence. 'This incident is not a harmless joke or casual banter – it is a harrowing demonstration of online gender-based violence,' she said. She pledged to escalate the matter to various regulatory bodies, including the Commission for Gender Equality and the South African Human Rights Commission, and to pursue legal avenues under laws such as the Cybercrimes Act and the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act. Letsike said: 'Women cannot be reduced to vulgar slurs and the objectification of the female body. This is a damaging reinforcement of gender-based disrespect and consequently violence.' Meanwhile, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications has entered the fray, raising broader concerns about the unregulated growth of podcasting in South Africa.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'Women cannot be reduced to vulgar slurs': Deputy Minister Letsike condemns MacG's offensive remarks about Minnie Dlamini
Deputy Minister Letsike calls out MacG over 'vomitous' comments about Minnie Dlamini. Government to pursue legal and regulatory action to stop online abuse and defend women's rights in public discourse. Image: MacG. Picture: Instagram The Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has condemned podcaster Macgyver 'MacG' Mukwevho over what she calls 'vomitous utterances' made against media personality Minnie Dlamini in a recent episode of Podcast and Chill. This follows the podcast host's crude speculation regarding the reasons behind Dlamini's past romantic break-ups, suggesting, 'maybe her coochie smells or something.' Letsike condemned this statement as 'nauseating in its vulgarity' and a violation of Dlamini's rights to freedom, security, equality, and human dignity. Letsike warned that such commentary is not just offensive, but constitutes a form of online gender-based violence as outlined in South Africa's National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. 'This incident is not a harmless joke or casual banter – it is a harrowing demonstration of online gender-based violence,' she said. The Deputy Minister expressed disgust at what she described as a pattern of misogynistic behaviour from Mukwevho, adding that multiple women have reportedly initiated legal action against him. 'Women cannot be reduced to vulgar slurs and the objectification of the female body, as this is a damaging reinforcement of gender-based disrespect and consequently violence,' she said. Referencing South Africa's painful history of legally sanctioned patriarchy under apartheid, Letsike said, 'We hang our heads in shame. We have persons defending Mukwevho's utterances as correct within the context of a progressive democracy such as ours.' The Ministry commended the public backlash from some podcast followers and broader South African society. '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,' said Letsike. She also welcomed the condemnation from Moja Love, the channel that broadcasts Podcast and Chill, but urged them to take firm disciplinary action: 'The walk must match the talk, if we are to enact any meaningful and progressive social change.'
