MacG Alleges Russia Alabuga Recruiter Scammed Him, Mzansi Reacts: “First Time Seeing MacG Serious”

• MacG claimed that Siyabonga Mhlungu, the person who recruited influencers for the Russia Alabuga Start Program social media campaign, had swindled him in the past
• In a Podcast and Chill episode that aired on Monday, 1 September 2025, MacG also called out Mhlungu over how he handled the Russia Alabuga scandal
• Some applauded MacG for exposing Mhlungu, while others called him out for being a hypocrite and costing Sol Phenduka his Kaya FM job

Bathong! Podcast and Chill co-host MacG shared that he was allegedly scammed by Siyabonga Mhlungu, the person responsible for recruiting some of the influencers who advertised the Russia Alabuga Start Program on social media.

The controversial Russia Alabuga Program has dominated headlines ever since netizens called out Cyan Boujee for promoting it. MacG and Sol Phenduka sat down with some of the influencers who lost their TikTok accounts, alongside SWAY Digital Marketing founder Siyabonga Mhlungu, for an in-depth discussion on a special episode of Podcast and Chill.

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It was during the heated discussion that MacG disclosed that Siyabonga Mhlungu had scammed him.

MacG claims Russia Alabuga recruiter scammed him

In the snippet shared on X by user @ThisIsColbert, a visibly angry MacG confronted Mhlungu and shared that he had scammed him before, but didn’t share details. He also expressed deep disappointment at how Siyabonga had handled the Russia Alabuga Start Program scandal.

“You know, obviously, people don't know this, but I know you personally, and I'm really disappointed in how you've handled yourself today because I've been scammed by you. I won't talk about that now 'cause it's not about that, but I feel like, bro, I was expecting you to take accountability because the damage you've done, bro, is monumental, bro. And what I'm hearing you say you're just deflecting. It's Dubai this, it's Russia this, it's the government this, but none of these people, and you're just throwing the influencers under the bus, bro. None of this would have happened to them. This is their livelihood,” MacG said.

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Kaya FM responds to Sol Phenduka’s suspension: "The process is still underway"

Watch the video below:

Netizens react after MacG claims Russia Alabuga recruiter scammed him

In the comments, several netizens pointed out the hypocrisy in MacG demanding that Siyabonga Mhlungu be accountable. Some applauded MacG for hosting the special Podcast and Chill episode and calling out Mhlungu. Others dug up details of how Mhlungu had allegedly scammed MacG.

Here are some of the comments:

@MelodicVibz said:

“He is the last person to be talking about accountability.”

@unclesplanet shared:

“That’s what leaders do, big up to MacG.”

@Juniour1422907 argued:

“I watched the entire show, and MacG is a hypocrite because he kept pressing dude on taking accountability, and he never ever does that himself. He literally cost Sol his job because he couldn't apologise to Minnie. Now, Sol lost R100 000 monthly because he failed to take accountability🤷‍♂️”

@Vena_tions alleged:

“MacG was scammed R80k by the guy introduced to him by Siya for their first African Tour Trip to Ghana. They once talked about it, and since they are yet to be paid back.”

Read also

Influencer Munaka Muthambi shares how she was recruited to promote Russia Alabuga Program

@Hlatsii_JaQ said:

“First time ke bona MacG ali serious. (First time seeing MacG serious.)”

Sol Phenduka confirms Kaya FM exit with hilarious meme

Meanwhile, Sol Phenduka confirmed that Kaya FM had fired him with a hilarious meme, as reported by Briefly News.

Sol was placed on suspension pending the outcome of an internal process. While he was initially supposed to be off air for seven days, the Podcast and Chill co-host's suspension was extended before Kaya FM eventually fired him.

Source: Briefly News