“Drug Links Are Lies”: Patriotic Alliance Fires Back at Explosive Claims Against Gayton McKenzie

The Patriotic Alliance has strongly denied claims linking its leader, Gayton McKenzie, to the drug trade.

The allegations surfaced during proceedings of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, which recently concluded oral hearings into claims made by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The hearings brought forward several accusations and pieces of evidence, sparking political tension.

Prison Letter and “Cartel” Claims Take Centre Stage

During a session last week, David Skosana of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party pressed Mkhwanazi on claims contained in a letter from inmate Jermaine Prim.

Prim alleges that he shared a prison cell at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility with alleged “Big Five Cartel” member Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, and documented their conversations.

According to the letter, Prim claims to possess a voice recording that allegedly links McKenzie to drug dealers and illicit funds. However, Mkhwanazi noted that the contents of the letter amount to hearsay evidence.

Patriotic Alliance Hits Back: “Nothing But Lies From a Prisoner”

The party’s deputy president, Kenny Kunene, has dismissed the claims outright, insisting neither he nor McKenzie has any involvement in drugs.

Kunene further alleged that Prim’s grievances date back to internal party issues during the 2019 by-elections, claiming a relative of Prim was removed from duties after concerns over missing food supplies.

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He said: “I wanted to put it on record, Gayton McKenzie is not involved in drugs. Jermaine has been in prison since then, and he then threatened the two councillors of the Patriotic Alliance in Ward 17 and 18.

“We have ignored Jermaine because he’s nothing but a criminal who is in prison. We have not responded to any of his lies because the people that we lead know what we do, and they know that he’s a peddler of lies. He is seeking attention in prison.”

Kunene added: “McKenzie has not given Jermaine any drugs to sell in prison.”

The matter remains under scrutiny as the committee process unfolds.