'Women cannot be reduced to vulgar slurs'

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.

- HOPE NTANZI

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.