Tumelo Ramaphosa’s Podcast and Chill appearance sparks backlash over his dog

Tumelo Ramaphosa’s Beagle steals the spotlight during Podcast and Chill episode

Tumelo Ramaphosa’s latest appearance on Podcast and Chill has sparked unexpected drama online after viewers found themselves more fascinated by his Beagle than by anything he said during the interview.

The episode, which dropped on Thursday, 20 November 2025, featured Tumelo opening up about sensitive topics, including his father Cyril Ramaphosa and the Phala Phala scandal.

But fans quickly shifted their attention to his pet and the way he interacted with her throughout the show.

While some viewers simply found the episode dull, others said Tumelo’s behaviour with his dog was uncomfortable to watch.

Not long after the premiere, the Podcast and Chill Network added fuel to the fire by posting photos of the Beagle on X with the caption, “Sol Phenduka’s favourite… finish the sentence,” prompting even more conversations about the unusual on-screen moment.

Another clip shared by @ThisIsColbert intensified the backlash. In the snippet, Tumelo is seen drinking from the same cup as his dog, a detail that stunned many online users.

The post read: “Rich people really amaze me. Tumelo Ramaphosa and his dog are out here sipping from the same cup, and the cup isn’t even theirs, it belongs to the whole Podcast Network. Mac G needs to evict that cup immediately!”

Reactions were split. Some viewers felt the dog lived a more privileged life than most South Africans, while others defended the episode as worthwhile once it picked up.

One user commented, “That dog eats better than average South Africans,” while another wrote, “What a boring show it was… that Ramaphosa guy spoke for hours yet he said nothing.”

Others argued it ended up being one of the stronger episodes once they pushed past the slow start.