Johannesburg-based radio station Kaya 959 has confirmed that it has officially terminated the contract of presenter Sol Phenduka.
Kaya 959 confirms Sol Phenduka’s dismissal
This comes after his recent suspension and growing controversy surrounding comments made about actress and TV presenter Minnie Dlamini on the popular Podcast and Chill with MacG.
In a statement, Kaya 959 said:
“Kaya 959 cannot and will not condone comments made on the MacG Vodcast, where Sol Phenduka is an integral part of the presenting team. Misogynistic remarks made about actress Minnie Dlamini were unacceptable and inconsistent with respect owed to women. As a content provider of our flagship breakfast show, his alignment with comments made on the vodcast does not reflect who we are as a station, nor what our listeners expect of us.”
Acting Managing Executive Dave Tiltmann explained that the decision was made because the incident went against the station’s values and harmed its reputation.
He also pointed out that Phenduka had given written assurances in June 2023 that similar conduct would not happen again, but the latest controversy broke that agreement.
Tiltmann said the matter amounted to a breach of his independent contract with Kaya 959, giving the station grounds to terminate the relationship.
Before being fired, Sol Phenduka was suspended for seven days. During an episode of Podcast and Chill, he said he was “surprised” by the suspension because he had been told to keep the matter private after a meeting with management.
Phenduka clarified that the suspension was linked to a legal case filed by Minnie Dlamini, not misconduct at the radio station. “Many people assumed that I was suspended for being late or unprofessional, but that is not the case,” he explained.
Minnie Dlamini’s Equality Court case
The controversy began when comments about Minnie Dlamini’s past relationships and personal hygiene were made on Podcast and Chill. Viewers and rights groups labelled the remarks as misogynistic, meaning they showed prejudice or disrespect toward women.
Dlamini has since taken the matter to the Equality Court, a legal body that handles cases of discrimination, harassment, and hate speech. She is demanding R2.5 million in total: R1 million in damages for harm to her dignity, and R1.5 million to be donated to a women’s rights organisation.
She rejected a public apology from co-host MacGyver “MacG” Mukwevho in May 2025, insisting that the matter must be settled legally.
