MK Party Calls for Gayton McKenzie’s Suspension Over Drug Cartel Allegations
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is calling for Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie’s immediate suspension following allegations linking him to a major drug cartel. Convicted fraudster Jermaine Prim claims McKenzie has ties to the “Big Five” syndicates, accusations presented to Parliament and repeated in a televised interview. The MK Party wants the Madlanga Commission to investigate, while McKenzie and the Patriotic Alliance deny the allegations, calling them baseless and threatening legal action.
Prim alleges McKenzie acts as a proxy for the Big 5 cartels, transporting drugs to Cape Town and selling mandrax locally. He claims to have voice recordings supporting these claims, based on conversations with murder-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. McKenzie denies knowing Matlala or any Big 5 cartel figures, saying the allegations are “extremely far-fetched”.
The Department of Correctional Services is probing how Prim conducted the eNCA interview without approval. The ad hoc committee investigating the allegations has until March 31, 2026, to conclude its work and report to the National Assembly.
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