ActionSA Member of Parliament, Dereleen James, has opened a case of intimidation against Minister Gayton McKenzie at the Cape Town Central Police Station, following alleged threats and intimidation tactics. The friction between James and McKenzie, leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), arose from her inquiries during Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Investigating Alleged Links to Drug Cartels
During committee hearings, MPs probed alleged links between the leadership of the Patriotic Alliance and alleged Big 5 cartel member Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe. The committee received a letter suggesting McKenzie may be linked to drug cartels, which Mkhwanazi acknowledged as hearsay. The letter claims there is a voice recording connecting McKenzie to drug dealers and money. At the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, from the SAPS Crime Intelligence unit, had testified that Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and Molefe were part of the Big Five cartel that was involved in drug trafficking.
According to the South African Government website, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry aims to investigate allegations of corruption and state capture. The PA’s Deputy President, Kenny Kunene, had previously dismissed the allegations as lies, saying that neither he nor the minister is involved in drugs.
McKenzie Responds to Allegations
McKenzie, who often uses Facebook Live to connect with supporters, said: “Let Dereleen and Kurt have a good time with my name, a very good time. Let them have a good time with my name, it’s okay, the path is long. I am 24-7 with security; outside my house now there is security, so I want to put it out now, you see, I do not come sideways. Enjoy my name, do what you want to do… I do not know Cat Matlala. I have never met Cat Matlala. I do not know KT [Molefe], I don’t remember his surname, I do not know these people,” McKenzie said.
ActionSA said that the minister’s repeated attempts to intimidate James are a direct attack on an elected representative fulfilling her constitutional duty to expose criminal capture by drug cartels in South Africa, and such conduct must be addressed legally. For more information on the Constitution of South Africa, visit the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development website.
Here are some key points to consider:
- The case of intimidation was opened at the Cape Town Central Police Station.
- The alleged intimidation tactics and threats were made by Minister Gayton McKenzie.
- The friction between James and McKenzie arose from her inquiries during Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee.
Speaking outside the police station yesterday after opening a case of intimidation, James said that “they will not be intimidated by holding those who are in high places to account”.
