From engineering to entertainment and social media stardom, Amanda ‘Mandy MC’ Haridutt has spread positivity and care to those around her while representing Phoenix with kindness. This Women’s Month, The Phoenix Tabloid sat down with her to discuss her journey, what motivates her and how she uses her platform to advocate for gender-based violence (GBV) awareness.
PT: For those of us that do not know you, please can you introduce yourself?
AH: My government name is Amanda Haridutt, but I am known more widely as Mandy MC. If you ask my family my name, they will say Ann, which is their ‘calling’ name for me. I am married with three children: Lazelle, Jarelle and Gillian, and I have to mention my cat babies, Thomas Sox and Duchess Blu.
PT: Tell us about yourself: Family, siblings, where you were born and raised, which schools you attended, tertiary education and career?
AH: I’m not one to generally speak about myself, but I’ve been told that I am confident, bold, headstrong, vibrant, fiercely protective of my loved ones, the life of any party and not someone you would want to sit next to at a funeral. I am proudly a Phoenix girl, born and raised. My roots run deep here and I often say, even if I won the lotto (which I don’t play), I would never leave my hometown.
I love people, especially the oldies, that’s my happy place. I soak up their stories and life experiences. I was brought up surrounded by my Amma, Appa and an army of uncles, aunts and cousins. I think through that, I have learnt to give love openly. My Amma would call any passerby to come for a meal, without even checking if my aunt had cooked yet. She was a prime example of humanity at its finest. So that’s where I get my love of people.
PT: Describe your current occupation?
AH: I am currently an MC, entertainer, influencer and content creator. I don’t just MC events, I create experiences. I’m the voice, the energy and sometimes the heartbeat of the room. I bring people together, keep the programme moving, make people laugh, fill awkward silences and make sure every important moment gets the attention it deserves.
For me, it’s not just about holding a microphone. I genuinely love people, celebrating them, hearing their stories, creating moments and watching a room go from strangers sitting at tables to people laughing, dancing and connecting. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, ladies’ event, corporate function or celebration of life, I believe every event deserves to have a personality. I read the room, feel the energy and bring my own Mandy MC magic to it. For me, the microphone is my way of connecting with people, creating joy and making moments unforgettable.
PT: You are a well-known and much-loved social media influencer. How many followers do you have and which social media platform has the most followers?
AH: I would describe myself as a people person, a storyteller and a creator of experiences. Social media has given me a platform, but it’s the connection with people that has kept me here. I use my voice, personality and experiences to entertain, inspire, connect and sometimes just make people laugh.
As an MC and media personality, I’ve built a brand around being authentic, energetic and unapologetically myself. What you see online is very much who I am in real life. Whether I’m behind a microphone, in front of a camera or engaging with my audience online, my goal is always to leave people feeling inspired, entertained, empowered or simply happier than they were five minutes ago. I currently have 76k followers with over 30 million views. TikTok has certainly helped spread my wings.
PT: What was your original choice of career and what made you become such a successful influencer?
AH: I always wanted to work with my dad in structural engineering. Even as a little girl, my dad would take my brother and me with him to work and it was fascinating to watch steel bend and twist to become these monster structures. The smell of raw iron, steel, grinding and welding was embedded in me.
I worked as the Chief Buyer for an international specialised machine tool company for 12 years. A predominantly male-dominated industry, but I thrived. I left that industry to focus on my family and that is how I was thrown into the world of social media.
I am truly humbled to be known for kindness, to be known as a good role model for younger women and for being inspirational. It’s not something I sought after, but now that it’s landed on my lap, I take that seriously. I live in kindness, therefore I always promote it. In a world where you can choose to be anything, always choose to be kind.
And now I am also starring in a powerful production alongside some of the biggest names in the business. I am so honoured. Dear Future Husband shows on 27 November at The Point Yacht Club. Tickets are available on Quicket.
PT: What was the very first video that you did? Do you do your videos yourself? What equipment do you use?
AH: My very first video was in 2022. It was me cooking mutton breyani on the outside fire. I did not even have TikTok at that time, but my daughter, Lazelle, installed it and said, “Mum, you just cook, I will record you.” She did and posted it. I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t even know how to use the app.
Two weeks later, my daughter asked me how my video was doing. I shrugged my shoulders and asked what she meant. I didn’t know. She screamed when she checked my phone. That very first video hit over 300 000 views. The rest is history.
Now, I do all my videos myself – phone in one hand and cooking or eating with the other. No fancy equipment, just me and my phone. But my events, I could never pull off on my own. My husband, Yogesh, is my right-hand man. I also have an amazing team of women, including my mum, who are my support structure. They stand beside me through everything.
PT: August is Women’s Month. As much as we celebrate women, our hearts are still heavy for all the women and children out there who are suffering from GBH, sexual abuse, rape, murder, poverty, mental health and the list goes on. As a Woman of worth yourself, what has been your experience? With the women of Phoenix, what have you noticed over the years and how do you endeavour to bring awareness to these issues?
AH: Living in Phoenix, I don’t think you can be a woman in our community and not see or hear about the realities that women face: domestic violence, emotional abuse, financial abuse, intimidation and violence against women. It is very real, and it is very close to home.
As an MC and entertainer, I often ask myself, what can I actually do? I’m not a counsellor or social worker, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I do have a voice, a platform and access to women. Sometimes, that is where change starts.
I speak to women in small private groups or at my events. I encourage and motivate them and remind them that what they are going through does not define their worth. I remind them that they are loved, that they matter and that they have options.
I try to make it relatable because sometimes women don’t need another person standing in front of them giving them a lecture. Sometimes they need another woman to sit beside them and say, “Girl, I see you. You are not alone.”
I also believe that joy and laughter are important. They can make you forget your problems for a while. That’s one of the reasons I often give women tickets to my events when I know they would love to attend but simply cannot afford it. I do this at my own discretion. It might seem small, but for some women, an afternoon or evening where they can dress up, laugh, dance, meet other women and forget their problems for a few hours can mean more than we realise.
For me, empowerment isn’t always about making a huge speech. Sometimes it’s a conversation, a hug, a ticket or simply saying, “You deserve better.” Most importantly, I want women to know that there are options and that asking for help is not weakness.
I also recognise that when a woman is experiencing abuse, telling her simply to “leave” is not always realistic or safe. There can be children, finances, fear, isolation and many other factors involved. My role is not to judge her or tell her what she should do. My role is to listen, encourage, support and, where appropriate, point her towards people who are trained to help.
South Africa’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre is available at 0800 428 428, with a “Please Call Me” option at 1207867# and SMS support by sending “Help” to 31531.
I may be an MC. I may be the woman with the microphone, the music, the sparkle and the entertainment, but I also believe that the microphone comes with responsibility. If I can use my voice to make one woman feel stronger, one woman feel seen, or one woman realise that she is worthy of a life without violence and fear, then I believe I’m doing something that matters.
Women don’t only need to celebrate in August. We need to keep empowering, encouraging and standing beside one another long after Women’s Month is over.
PT: Do you work with any organisations for these causes, and what are the causes close to your heart?
AH: There are a few causes that are very close to my heart, and while I do work with some local organisations, a lot of the work I do happens privately within my own community. I truly believe that charity begins at home.
I live in Phoenix, in the Greenbury community, so naturally, this is where my heart is. I see the needs around me, and when I can help, I try to do so in whatever way I can. My biggest soft spot has always been for our older folk, our golden oldies.
There are elderly residents who have worked hard their entire lives but now find themselves struggling to afford even something as basic as a decent meal. That really touches me. If I know there is an elderly person who needs a meal, groceries, or simply a little care and attention, I try to step in where I can.
For me, giving back isn’t always about making a big public announcement or attaching your name to everything you do. Sometimes it’s quietly buying someone a meal, checking in on an elderly neighbour or helping a family through a difficult time.
I believe that if we each looked around our own communities and asked, “Who can I help?”, we could make a tremendous difference. Our elderly people will always have a very special place in my heart. They deserve to feel remembered, respected, valued and loved, not just during special occasions, but throughout the year.
PT: We are living in different times from those we grew up in. Do you think the focus on education and discipline has declined? What’s your opinion on that and how does it affect the women and children in our community?
AH: Yes, we are living in a very different time and world, and in some ways, we have lost some of the balance between education, discipline, respect and accountability. But I don’t believe today’s youth are the problem. I believe they are growing up in a world that is very different from the one we grew up in.
Social media, peer pressure and instant gratification have changed the way young people communicate, learn and see themselves. At the same time, many parents are working incredibly hard just to survive, and sometimes children are left to learn values from the internet rather than from the people around them.
I think education has to go beyond textbooks. We need to educate the whole child. Teach them respect, responsibility, empathy, financial literacy, communication, consequences and how to handle rejection and disappointment. Discipline doesn’t have to mean being harsh. It means boundaries and accountability.
Young people need to know that their actions have consequences, but they also need to know that making a mistake doesn’t make them a failure. Most importantly, we need adults to get involved again. Parents, teachers, community leaders, religious leaders and organisations – and even people like myself who have a public platform – need to become positive role models.
Sometimes a young person doesn’t need another lecture. They need somebody to say, “I believe in you. You’re capable of more. But I’m also going to hold you accountable.”
We also need to listen to young people. If we want them to respect our voices, we have to be willing to understand their world. So I don’t think the answer is simply more discipline or more education. It’s education with values, discipline with compassion, and adults who are prepared to show young people, through our own actions, what good character actually looks like.
Because when we give a young person the tools, dignity, guidance and confidence they need, we’re not just helping that child today, we’re investing in the future of our entire community.
PT: Growing up, who has been an inspiration to you, your hero and mentor?
AH: Growing up, my greatest mentors and role models were my grandparents, affectionately known to us as Amma and Appa. They were the foundation of so many of the values I carry with me today.
They taught me that being successful isn’t just about what you have or what you achieve, it’s about the kind of human being you are. They taught us simple but powerful values: love all, serve all, help wherever you can, and feed those who are hungry. They believed that if you have enough to share, you should share it.
Perhaps their greatest lesson was to love freely and openly. Don’t be afraid to show people that you care. Don’t wait for a special occasion to tell someone you love them. And never underestimate the impact of a small act of kindness.
A lot of what I do in my community today comes from those lessons. When I see someone who needs help, especially our elderly people, something in me immediately says, “What can I do?” That comes from Amma and Appa.
Their legacy isn’t something I simply remember, it’s something I try to live every day. If I can leave even a little of that love, kindness and humanity behind for the next generation, then I know I’ve honoured them in the best way possible.
PT: In a message to all women, seniors, widows, teenagers, single mums and abused women, what message of hope would you give to them?
AH: To every woman, girl, teenager, mother, grandmother, and especially to every woman who is hurting or experiencing abuse, please remember this – your current situation does not define your future. You are still worthy. You are still valuable. You are still deserving of love, respect, safety and happiness.
To our young girls and teenagers, don’t allow the world to convince you that your worth is measured by your appearance, your followers, your relationship status or what other people think of you. You are enough before anybody chooses you. Educate yourself, dream big, surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed, and never be afraid to ask for help.
To our mothers and women who are carrying the weight of everyone else, remember that you matter too. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to have dreams. You are allowed to choose yourself.
To our seniors and older women, never think that your best days are behind you. Your experience, wisdom and stories have value. You are still needed, still loved and still capable of making a difference.
And to the woman who is being abused, my darling, whether it is physical, emotional, financial or psychological, please know that the abuse is not your fault. You don’t deserve it, and you don’t have to suffer in silence. I know that leaving an abusive situation isn’t always simple, and sometimes it isn’t immediately safe. Please reach out to someone you trust and seek professional support when you can.
To every woman reading this today, I want you to remember one thing: Don’t let the world make you forget who you are. You may be tired, rebuilding or starting again at 18, 40, 60 or 70. You may not know what tomorrow looks like. But there is still hope.
Sometimes hope doesn’t arrive as a huge breakthrough. Sometimes it is simply getting up tomorrow and trying again. And if nobody has told you today, you are loved. You are worthy. You are important. You have a voice. You have choices. And your story is not over.
Keep going, my queen. Your crown may have slipped, life may have knocked you down, and you may have had moments where you didn’t think you could continue, but straighten that crown, take one more step, and remember that there is still so much life waiting for you.
And when you are strong enough, reach back and lift another woman with you. Because that’s how we change our communities, one woman, one girl, one act of kindness at a time.
