Commercial radio station Kaya 959 has terminated the contract of its breakfast show co-presenter, Sol Phenduka, with immediate effect. The decision follows a period of suspension and is a direct result of offensive remarks Phenduka made about actress Minnie Dlamini on the popular "Podcast and Chill with MacG," where he is a co-host.
Phenduka was placed on suspension by the station nearly two weeks ago, with Kaya 959 remaining silent on the reason at the time. However, days later, Phenduka himself addressed the suspension during an episode of "Podcast and Chill with MacG." He revealed that his suspension was related to the legal action Dlamini had initiated against the podcast. Early last month, Dlamini announced she was pursuing a lawsuit, seeking R2.5 million in damages for hate speech and harassment, specifically referencing offensive comments made about her and her private parts earlier in the year.
Acting Managing Director of Kaya 959, Dave Tillmann, confirmed the station's stance in a statement. "Kaya 959 cannot and will not condone comments made on the MacG vodcast, where Sol Phenduka is an integral part of the presenting team," he stated. Tillmann described the remarks about Dlamini as "misogynistic" and "unacceptable," adding that they were "inconsistent with respect owed to women."
The station's decision to fire Phenduka was based on the view that his "alignment with comments made on the vodcast do not reflect who we are as a station, nor what our listeners expect of us." The station also cited a breach of Phenduka's independent contract. According to Kaya 959, the "Diqabang" hitmaker had previously given a written assurance to the station in June 2023 that such conduct would not happen again, acknowledging his responsibilities as a representative of Kaya 959.
Tillmann emphasised that the station's values of trust, integrity, accountability, respect, and inclusivity are the "foundations of Kaya 959." He added that these principles guide all of the station's content, both on-air and online. "We are answerable to our listeners and when conduct falls short, we act decisively,” Tillmann stated.
Phenduka first joined Kaya 959 in 2022 as the co-host of the breakfast show alongside Dineo Ranaka, who was later dismissed from the station. His firing concludes his tenure at the station, bringing an end to the controversy that began with his remarks on the podcast.
Follow Us on Twitter
