The Patriotic Alliance dismisses claims from a convicted fraudster linking its leader Gayton McKenzie to wrongdoing.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
While the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said it is investigating eNCA’s telephone interview with incarcerated offender, Jermaine Prim, the Patriotic Alliance’s Gayton McKenzie said he will be taking legal action.
Prim and the PA leader have been embroiled in a media war of words after the prisoner’s name first emerged during Parliament’s ad hoc committee, which is probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
During the last oral proceedings, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party MP and committee member David Skosana questioned Mkhwanazi about allegations contained in a letter from Prim.
The letter, which has not been published in full, refers to conversations Prim allegedly had with murder-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Prim claims he shared a prison cell with Matlala at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility and detailed their discussions in the letter.
Mkhwanazi acknowledged that the letter constitutes hearsay evidence.
In the letter, Prim alleges he has a voice recording linking McKenzie to drug dealers and illicit funds.
During eNCA’s telephonic interview, which aired on Saturday, journalist Heidi Giokos questioned Prim on his relationship with McKenzie.
Prim alleged that he met McKenzie through an associate, Mario “Ikit” Darzis, around 2012, and reconnected with him in 2020 after the death of Nathaniel Julies.
Julies, a 16-year-old boy with Down syndrome, was shot dead by police in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, in August 2020, sparking outrage over police brutality.
"We made a big noise with the death of Nathaniel Julies because that was close to my heart; my children live a street away from them," Prim said in the interview.
Prim added that McKenzie later enlisted his help in running a social media campaign for the party’s by-elections.
"He then asked me if I could please (work) on a social media campaign and get people on the ground to help him win the Riverlea by-election. I ran the social media campaign. I also invested quite a bit in the campaign. As a result, the PA won the by-election," Prim alleged.
He said the relationship later deteriorated over an alleged unpaid debt.
"Gayton owed me quite a bit of money that I had invested in the campaign… this eventually led to a dispute between the two of us."
Prim also made a more explosive allegation.
"Yes, Gayton sent in two phones for me at the time."
He also alleged that the reason he was placed in C-Max was because of McKenzie and that the PA leader tried to gag him.
“The Patriotic Alliance was actually started by the ANC.” He alleged that it was started by the party to win the coloured vote in the province.
He claims that McKenzie is connected to drugs and that he was allegedly having issues with his drug suppliers, which is why he reached out to Prim.
Prim also alleged having bank statements and emails which show that McKenzie owes him money. He also claimed that McKenzie is “a proxy” for the Big Five.
McKenzie said that he will be taking legal action against the National Commissioner and Minister of Correctional Services, eNCA, its editor, and Giokos in her personal capacity, and will also be reporting this matter to the Broadcasting Ombudsman.
“South Africans are not naive. A convicted fraudster does not become a credible whistleblower simply by making louder or more sensational allegations, even if he is aided and abetted by excitable members of the media,” the party said.
“We call on the public not to fall for these tactics. This is a calculated attempt to exploit the public interest, attach a conspiracy theory to a high-profile political figure, and manufacture credibility where none can possibly exist.”
The PA condemned “the reckless and defamatory allegations”.
“His claims are categorically false,” they said. “This individual has a proven history of deception, impersonation and manipulation.”
“Among his laundry list of cases is a charge of impersonating the head of the National Prosecuting Authority himself. It is also a lie – repeated at every turn by his family – that he has not been convicted and is only awaiting trial.
“Not a single piece of credible, verifiable evidence has been produced to support Jermaine Prim’s wild claims.”
The PA said that as far back as 2022, a report in the Mail & Guardian detailed in sensational fashion how Prim was said to be running a sophisticated fraud syndicate from inside prison using cloned phone numbers and impersonating senior public officials.
“It has already been confirmed by the Department of Correctional Services that Prim did not follow proper channels. This reflects his old modus operandi.
“We have seen this before. Last year, we were subjected to the same abuse, through the same eNCA news channel, and the same journalist. No evidence was presented then, no evidence has emerged since then, and no new evidence has come to light, even now,” McKenzie said.
“And yet they continue to run with this story as though there is anything worth reporting.”
McKenzie added that he is not aware of the so-called ‘Big Five’ and categorically denies any links to individuals.
The DCS has also condemned the telephonic interview conducted between eNCA Prim at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre, saying a full-scale investigation has been instituted to determine how this incident occurred.
They said that the engagement was conducted without the approval of the National Commissioner and represents “a clear violation of established Standard Operating Procedures”.
eNCA’s news director, Lukhanyo Calata, said that they are unable to comment on this matter at this stage.