Podcaster and DJ Sol Phenduka has issued a public apology to South Africans and the family of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, following an insensitive joke made during a recent episode of “Podcast and Chill”.
The presenter addressed the controversy in an apology video after a clip from the episode circulated on social media. Moselakgomo, a runner who had been reported missing in Ekurhuleni, was later found dead in Kempton Park.
Phenduka explained that the episode was recorded on Sunday, at a time when Moselakgomo was still missing.
“She was dissing me about my weight. It’s fine, it’s whatever, I’m used to it, and I was dissing her and her podcast at the run of numbers, and I made an unfortunate pun joke at the time,” he said.
“Yeah, we laughed, but it’s not funny anymore because the lady, when the story developed, her body was found in Kempton Park.”
Phenduka said he wanted to apologise “profusely” to South Africans, “Podcast and Chill” viewers, and the Moselakgomo family.
“Deriving a joke, be it targeted at somebody else, about a situation around a missing person is distasteful because it is a traumatic situation, especially in the context of South Africa and the unfortunate high femicide that we have,” he said.
The presenter also addressed the circulating clip, noting that it had been shortened and did not include the full context of the discussion.
“The clip that’s circulating, of course, it’s shortened. There’s parts of the clip where Underwoods sends her thoughts to the family and we were hoping that she does get found,” he said.
Phenduka added that the full episode remains available on YouTube and includes their expressions of hope that Moselakgomo would be found.
He acknowledged that, regardless of the broader context, making humour out of a missing person’s situation was inappropriate.
“I just want to apologise profusely for even deriving any humour from such a situation,” he said.
Phenduka also reiterated his stance against gender-based violence, saying he had spoken about the issue repeatedly throughout the hundreds of episodes recorded.
“I’ve always been clear where I stand on GBV, many times over the hundreds of episodes we’ve recorded. I’d never make light of such a tragic moment,” he said.
He extended his condolences to the Moselakgomo family and others who have lost loved ones to violence.
“Apologies and condolences to the Moselakgomo family and to any family that has lost anyone through GBV, femicide or any sort of violence,” he said.
Phenduka concluded by calling on men to end violence against women and others.
“I just want to plead with men to stop the violence because it’s mostly men who are the perpetrators,” he said. “And I hope there’s justice for these families. Once again, sorry for the distasteful remarks.”
