A political tussle has turned into a formal legal and parliamentary confrontation after ActionSA MP Dereleen James laid criminal charges against Patriotic Alliance (PA) President Gayton McKenzie.
On the same day, the PA confirmed that McKenzie formally lodged a complaint with Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests against James.
The dispute stems from a recent parliamentary hearing of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations linked to the South African Police Service (SAPS), during which the PA strongly denied claims connecting McKenzie to the drug trade. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi testified about a handwritten letter from inmate Jermaine Prim, allegedly containing voice recordings implicating McKenzie in illicit dealings. The letter reportedly documented conversations Prim had with controversial businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala while in custody.
James confirmed her action this morning, saying: “I have just laid criminal charges of intimidation against Minister Gayton McKenzie. Attempts to intimidate me will not stop me from probing every possible link to the drug cartels destroying our community. Attacks on me as an MP carrying out my constitutional duties to expose criminal capture by drug cartels in South Africa are unacceptable and will be dealt with in accordance with the law. South Africans expect me to fight for them and the daily threats I receive, including attempts by a Minister to intimidate me, will not stop me.”
In turn, the PA confirmed that McKenzie had formally lodged a complaint against James. According to the party, the complaint is not about political disagreement but “concerns a pattern of conduct which, on any fair reading, falls below the standards required of Members of Parliament.”
The complaint alleges that James breached multiple provisions of the Code of Ethical Conduct, including requirements for members to act in accordance with public trust, place the public interest above personal or political interests, maintain public confidence in Parliament, and refrain from using derogatory language or bringing Parliament into disrepute on social media.
“At the centre of the complaint is Ms James’s deliberate mischaracterisation of a statement made by President McKenzie during a public Facebook Live engagement,” the PA said. During the session, McKenzie used the phrase “the road is long,” a commonly understood idiomatic expression meaning that time reveals the truth, perspectives change, and those who win in the short term do not always win in the long term.
PA Deputy Kenny Kunene also dismissed the allegations. “Gayton McKenzie is not involved in drugs, I am not involved in drugs,” he said, emphasizing that neither he nor McKenzie had any connection to illegal activity.
Despite these denials, tensions quickly escalated online between McKenzie and James. James publicly accused McKenzie of threatening her over questions about his travel expenses and the presence of Kunene at a private residence. She tweeted: “Sies! @GaytonMcK Are you threatening me? Are you insinuating I don’t have security? All this because you delayed responding to ActionSA’s parliamentary question on your travel expense? All this because I questioned Kenny’s presence at Molefe’s house? If this isn’t THUGGISH behaviour coming from a whole MINISTER, then I don’t know what is! If ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR ANYONE CLOSE TO ME, SA REMEMBER THIS.”
McKenzie dismissed the personal accusations, saying: “I don’t know Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, I don’t know KT, I don’t know these people. I don’t know this big five guys; I’ve never met them.” He also expressed disappointment in Mkhwanazi: “I was very disappointed in the general because I really, really was a big fan of him. He should have known to test that information before he took it there.”
The unfolding dispute highlights growing tensions in South African politics, where allegations of misconduct, parliamentary oversight, and social media exchanges can quickly escalate into public confrontations.
Saturday Star