MacG’s controversial DStv show Podcast and Chill has been dumped, effectively ending the shock jock’s fledgling television career.
The move follows a slew of complaints over his demeaning comments about media personality Minnie Dlamini.
MultiChoice this week refused to confirm the move, saying only that it had “licensed a slate of podcasts” from its digital distribution partner Leading Edge Growth, which was “responsible for curating the podcast slate, taking into account audience dynamics and content demand”.
But Leading Edge Growth CEO Lufuno Maliavusa confirmed the show had been pulled.
“To keep our content slate dynamic and engaging, we will continue to make adjustments to our roster. Notably, season one of Podcast and Chill and season one of Awkward Dates are nearing their final episodes in the coming weeks, making way for fresh and exciting content to take their place in these time slots,” Maliavusa said.
Podcast and Chill airs weekly on the Mzansi Wethu channel on DStv. Awkward Dates is hosted by popular YouTuber Thulasizwe “Lasizwe” Dambuza.
The shows were launched in April, along with several other programmes sourced from digital platforms featuring disruptive podcasts and content creators. The shows were shown on Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu.
At the time, MultiChoice described the move as “a revolution, a bold step into the future where linear television meets the gutsy, unfiltered world of digital storytelling”.
While MacG, whose real name is MacGyver Mukwevho, did not respond to requests for comment, a source close to him said he was “unmoved” by the decision and was “pursuing other endeavours”.
Social media law expert Emma Sadleir said the storm surrounding Podcast and Chill had sparked discussions about whether podcasters should have their own regulatory body.
“Print media has the Press Council, while TV and radio have the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, but there isn’t anything governing podcasters, so that is something to consider,” Sadleir said.
TV analyst Theunis Ferreira said the move would not hurt MacG, as those who had watched him on TV would likely continue following him elsewhere, and the TV channel itself might lose audiences.
This will land him even more followers ... and will not do the channel any favours. It’s a win for MacG and a lose for DStv
— Theunis Ferreira, TV analyst
“There may be a negative impact on MultiChoice, because they took a short cut and decided not to invest in making real local content. They saw they were competing with TikTok videos and podcasts and took a gamble.”
Ferreira said that gamble had now backfired, as MacG had been given additional exposure on TV. “This will land him even more followers ... and will not do the channel any favours. It’s a win for MacG and a lose for DStv.”
MacG caused an uproar when he made a comment on his podcast about Dlamini’s split from her boyfriend, Brian Monaisa. He said Dlamini could not keep and man and suggested crudely that it might be because of poor hygiene on her part.
Dlamini has said she will be taking legal action against the podcaster, despite him apologising through his attorneys and inviting her to appear on his show.
The remarks — made online, not on MacG's TV show — also prompted public figures and organisations to sit up and take notice. The Somandla Clothing and Nduzuzo Memela Foundation filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission, describing the comments as harmful and degrading.
Deputy minister of women, youth & persons with disabilities Mmapaseka “Steve” Letsike condemned the remarks as online gender-based violence and called for increased regulation of digital platforms.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibility of content creators and broadcasters to promote respectful and inclusive dialogue, especially about issues of gender and personal dignity.
MacG has left a string of controversies in his wake.
In 2021, he and his guest Jub Jub made several crass and inflammatory remarks about actress Amanda du-Pont, whom Jub Jub claimed to have had a romantic relationship with. A furious Du-Pont responded by posting a video online in which she accused Jub Jub of raping her.
This revelation led to widespread public outrage and legal scrutiny.
Jub Jub also shared private audio messages from Kelly Khumalo, the mother of his child, in which he said he wanted to reconnect with their son. He faced criticism for infringing her right to privacy and exploiting personal matters for public attention.
After the episode was aired, both MacG and Jub Jub faced a fierce backlash.
MacG defended the podcast’s role in providing a platform for open discussion, saying: “How the f**k are we supposed to read his mind and fact-check that?”
Jub Jub later issued an apology.
Also in 2021, MacG and his co-host Sol Phenduka made transphobic jokes about US reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner and mocked South African media personality Siv Ngesi’s drag queen persona Sivanna. These comments led to big-name brands — including Old Mutual, Amstel Lager and Studio 88 — withdrawing their sponsorships of the show.
In 2022 MacG faced criticism for making derogatory remarks about women and objectifying their bodies. This behaviour was condemned by various organisations, including Moja Love TV, which said his utterances reinforced “gender-based disrespect” and had “no place in society and media specifically”.
Two years later, he faced a backlash for belittling the achievements of global music sensation Tyla.
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