Incorrigible controversy addicts MacG and his co-hosts, Sol Phenduka and Ghost Lady, have been dragged to court after they refused to apologise for the rape allegations they made on their podcast.
Africa Daily can exclusively reveal that Homecoming Events owners have filed papers in the Johannesburg High Court, where they are seeking an order to compel the trio to publicly apologise and retract the “false allegations” that a woman was raped by a well-known DJ at one of their events held in Sun City recently.
Homecoming Events filed the lawsuit against the intrepid troika after they cocked a snook at a letter of demand sent by the entity’s lawyers, Webber Wentzel, to withdraw the allegations.
Despite refusing to apologise and retract the allegations, MacG, Sol Phenduka and Ghost Lady have also, peculiarly, refused to file papers in court to oppose Homecoming Events’ lawsuit, effectively opening themselves up to punitive cost orders.
In his founding affidavit, filed in court about two weeks ago, Homecoming Events director Oratile Sangweni stated that during a Podcast and Chill episode titled “Blue Mbombo Drama | Simphiwe Dana, Alostro? SweetGuluva DNA Drama! | Bafana Bafana Visa Crisis”, the podcasters alleged that a woman was raped by a prominent celebrity during the event.
They further alleged that the impresarios had covered it up because the incident had the propensity to damage the event’s image.
Sangweni argued that the statements, which were beamed in the episode broadcast on or about 1 June 2026, were false, unsubstantiated and highly defamatory.
He said the comments created the impression that Homecoming Events and its representatives were aware of a rape allegation involving a prominent celebrity and had deliberately attempted to suppress it in order to protect the company’s commercial interests.
He further argued that the allegations were capable of causing severe reputational damage, potentially resulting in sponsors withdrawing support, artists distancing themselves from the company, declining ticket sales and difficulties in maintaining venue partnerships.
As a result, he said, they instructed their lawyers to write a letter demanding that the podcasters immediately remove the episode and any related content from YouTube and other social media platforms and provide a written undertaking that the allegations would not be repeated.
They also demanded an unconditional public apology. However, MacG, Sol Phenduka and Ghost Lady ghosted them, prompting the company to file papers in court seeking relief.
Sangweni said that despite having been duly served with a summons and afforded sufficient opportunity to file opposing papers, MacG, Sol Phenduka and Ghost Lady had failed or refused to do so.
In his heads of argument, Sangweni is asking the court to hear the matter on an urgent basis.
“Therefore, there are no legal submissions made as to both urgency and the merits of the application. Apart from the undisputed argument for urgency, no legal grounds are advanced as to why the matter is not urgent.
In these heads of argument, which will be relied upon during the oral hearing, we address why urgent relief is imperative and why the respondents should pay punitive costs,” he said.
Sangweni said the three podcasters’ failure to file answering affidavits was evidence that they had no grounds on which to defend the false allegations.
“Failure to file an answering affidavit by the respondents simply means that there are no grounds for opposition that address any of the legally recognisable grounds which ordinarily negate the wrongfulness of the defamation.
The applicants simply ask for an order stating that the statements are false and defamatory.
The respondents intend to repeat the statements. For this reason, two further orders are necessary. Firstly, an order directing the respondents to publish a retraction on the terms set out in the Notice of Motion. Secondly, an interdict prohibiting the respondents from repeating the defamatory statements,” read the paper
MacG and Podcast Chief Executive Officer Bala Dama asked Africa Daily to send him written questions. However , he had not responded to them at the time of publication.
Homecoming Events lawyer Tarryn Martin of Webber Wentzel Attorneys, said they will not comment because the matter is before court.
