Papa Penny Claps Back at Prince Mashele Over ‘Idiot’ Comment: “You Are Not Educated, You Are a Big Thief!”

MK Party MP and legendary Tsonga musician Papa Penny has fired back at political analyst and author Prince Mashele after he made scathing remarks about the musician-turned-politician’s educational background.

In a viral video, Mashele did not hold back, referring to Gezani Kobane (popularly known as Papa Penny) as an “idiot” due to his lack of a formal education. This sparked major outrage and a heated response from the outspoken MP.

Mashele’s Bold Claims: “There Must Be a Baseline”

Prince Mashele, known for his sharp political commentary, questioned how someone without a degree could be in Parliament making laws for educated citizens.

“The guy has not been to school. He has never seen a classroom in his life, but he is an MP making laws for me [when] I have a master’s degree,” Mashele stated.

Mashele argued that there should be a minimum educational requirement for MPs, suggesting that individuals without formal schooling should not be allowed to hold such positions.

“How could you have someone who hasn’t been to school in Parliament? It doesn’t make sense. There must be no one who hasn’t been to school in Parliament. There has to be a baseline,” he added.

Papa Penny’s Clapback: “You Are a Sell-Out!”

Papa Penny was not about to let that slide! In a series of fiery TikTok videos, he came out guns blazing, tearing into Mashele with insults and accusations.

“You are not educated; you are a big thief,” he fired back.

“You have been hired to go around destroying people. You were hired to go around taking bribe money and being mean to people. I have yet to see an idiot such as yourself,” he continued.

He further accused Mashele of being a puppet, allegedly paid to discredit black people and their organisations.

“Clean Your Dirty Mouth Before Speaking About Me”

Papa Penny, never one to shy away from confrontation, went even deeper, questioning why Mashele was bringing him down instead of supporting him as a fellow Tsonga brother.

“How can you do this to your own brother? Instead of building each other, you’re destroying us,” he said.

Then, in classic Penny Penny fashion, he added a zing to his clapback: “You must know how to clean your underwear and your dirty mouth before you speak about me,” he snapped.

“You think you’re better than everyone in this country and can say anything you want about anybody. I’m not just anyone; this is Penny Penny!”

“God Blessed Me—Not Your Devil’s Degree”

The Shaka Bundu hitmaker also addressed the criticism about his education, saying that his lack of formal schooling was never a choice but a result of life’s challenges.

“You have no idea how much God has placed upon my hands when I was birthed into the world by my mother. I have never laughed at poor people or the uneducated,” he said.

He made it clear that his success speaks for itself and that he did not need a degree to prove his intelligence.

“For my intellect to be compared to yours would be the highest form of stupidity. You could never destroy my gift that has been given to me by God—especially not through your gift of education that was given to you by the devil, you outcast,” he concluded.

Papa Penny’s Political Journey

While many know him for his larger-than-life personality and music career, Papa Penny has been actively involved in politics for years. He served as a councillor for the Giyani Local Municipality under the ANC from 2011 before joining the MK Party last year. In 2024, he was sworn in as an MP.

His response to Mashele has divided South Africans, with some supporting his fiery comeback while others argue that education should be a priority for politicians.

Social media is buzzing with reactions to the dramatic exchange. Many are debating whether Mashele was out of line or if he simply voiced an unpopular truth.

What do you think? Should Parliament have educational requirements, or does experience and wisdom matter more? Let us know in the comments!

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