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.
In an interview with SABC News, Committee Chairperson Khusela Diko emphasised the urgent need for updated legislation to address this regulatory void.
“In South Africa, over 3.2 million people engage with podcasts weekly, that's the size of our biggest radio stations,” said Diko.
“We operate under outdated laws like the Broadcasting Act of 1999 and the Electronic Communications Act of 2005. These were created long before podcasts or digital platforms of today’s magnitude.”
Diko stressed that regulation is not intended to stifle free speech, but to balance rights and responsibilities.
“Our constitution guarantees freedom of expression but also the rights to dignity, equality, and privacy. Regulation creates a platform to navigate these tensions responsibly,” she explained.
The Committee is urging the Department of Communications to expedite finalisation of the long-delayed audiovisual policy, which would help bring digital content creators like podcasters under appropriate oversight frameworks, such as the Broadcasting Act and the Film and Publications Board’s classification system.
“This is not about censorship,” Diko said.
“It’s about ensuring content creators operate within ethical boundaries that protect both their freedom and the rights of others.”
Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL Politics