ActionSA MP Dereleen James To Lay Charges Against McKenzie Over ‘Threats’ Row

ActionSA member of parliament Dereleen James is set to file criminal charges against Gayton McKenzie at the Cape Town Central Police Station on Tuesday.

The move follows allegations that the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister made threatening remarks during a Facebook Live broadcast over the weekend.

Alleged Threats Linked to Parliamentary Probe

The dispute stems from tensions within an ad hoc parliamentary committee probing claims involving the Patriotic Alliance leadership and alleged links to criminal networks.

A letter presented before the committee suggested McKenzie could be connected to drug cartels — claims he has firmly denied. He has maintained that he is a legitimate businessman and criticised Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for introducing the letter in Parliament.

During the broadcast, McKenzie 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. I know who is behind Kurt. It’s fire.

“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.

Sies! @GaytonMcK Are you threatening me? Are you insinuating I don’t have security?

All this because you delayed on 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… pic.twitter.com/jLViTDWq64

— Dereleen James MP (@DereleenJ) March 22, 2026

ActionSA  Claims Intimidation of Public Representative

ActionSA spokesperson Mathew George said the decision to lay charges followed James’s questioning during the committee’s inquiry into alleged links between PA figures and Katiso Molefe, who has been described as a suspected “Big 5 cartel” member.

“ActionSA views the minister’s repeated attempts to intimidate Dereleen James MP as a direct attack on an elected public representative carrying out her constitutional duties to expose criminal capture by drug cartels in South Africa, and believes that such conduct must be addressed in accordance with the law,” he said.

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The Patriotic Alliance has rejected the allegations, insisting no threats were made.

Party spokesperson Steve Motale said the matter was being blown out of proportion and accused Herman Mashaba of wasting police resources.

“They could not produce evidence. It is a cheap attention-seeking stunt by Mashaba,” he said.

James remains actively involved in the committee’s ongoing investigation into allegations first raised by Mkhwanazi.