By: Saneliso Mlambo
Veteran journalist Macfarlane Moleli has sparked intense debate after making explosive claims about late kwaito stars Mandoza and Tokollo “Magesh” Tshabalala during an appearance on Podcast and Chill with MacG.
Macfarlane Moleli is a veteran investigative journalist with more than two decades of experience in South African media. He is best known for his work as a reporter and anchor on M-Net’s Carte Blanche, where he built a reputation for exposing corruption, fraud and organised crime. Over the years, he has also worked at the SABC, eNCA and Kaya FM, making him one of the country’s most recognisable investigative journalists.
The interview, released this week, quickly went viral across social media, with clips circulating widely on X, TikTok and Facebook. McFarlane openly discussed his own past drug use before recounting experiences from his years covering South Africa’s entertainment industry. During the conversation, he claimed he had used drugs with Mandoza and also spoke about Tokollo in relation to drug use.
The remarks divided public opinion. Some social media users applauded McFarlane for speaking candidly about addiction and what they described as the hidden realities of the music industry. Others criticised him for making claims involving artists, particularly Mandoza, who died in 2016 and cannot respond.
The interview has reignited broader conversations about substance abuse in South Africa’s entertainment industry and whether public figures should disclose personal experiences involving others years after the events allegedly occurred. Many users argued the discussion could help expose the long-term impact of addiction, while others questioned the ethics of naming individuals during such interviews.
The episode has become one of the week’s most talked-about interviews, with South Africans continuing to debate whether McFarlane’s revelations represent overdue honesty about the entertainment industry’s past or crossed a line by publicly implicating others without additional evidence.