Convicted inmate Jermaine Prim has levelled serious accusations against Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie. Prim claims McKenzie maintains ties to the so-called “Big 5” drug cartels and receives supplies from alleged cartel member Katiso “KT” Molefe. The Gayton McKenzie drug cartel allegations surfaced again in a controversial eNCA interview broadcast on 28 March 2026.

Patriotic Alliance (PA) leaders immediately rejected the claims as “all lies” and hearsay. The matter first reached Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on crime earlier in March via a letter from Prim.

Inmate Prim Makes Fresh Gayton McKenzie Drug Cartel Allegations

Jermaine Prim, currently held in C-Max prison, told eNCA that McKenzie acts as a proxy for the Big 5 cartels. He alleged the minister transports drugs to Cape Town and sells mandrax locally. Prim also claimed McKenzie arranged his transfer to the high-security unit to silence him.

Prim said he possesses voice recordings that support these claims. He based some details on conversations he allegedly had with murder-accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala while they shared a cell at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility. These Gayton McKenzie drug cartel allegations build on the handwritten letter Prim sent to political parties.

Earlier Parliamentary Probe and PA Response

The allegations first appeared during an Ad Hoc Committee hearing in mid-March 2026. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi described the letter as hearsay evidence when MK Party MP David Skosana raised it. McKenzie responded firmly that he does not know Matlala, Molefe or any Big 5 cartel figures.

The Patriotic Alliance called the claims false and unproven. Deputy President Kenny Kunene added that Prim has a history of making threats and spreading false information against PA members. McKenzie stated publicly: “You can accuse me of anything but selling drugs is extremely far fetched.”

Correctional Services Launches Investigation

Minister of Correctional Services Dr Pieter Groenewald confirmed on 28 March 2026 that Prim did not have permission for the eNCA interview. He launched a full investigation into how the broadcast occurred. No official police statement on new charges has emerged yet.

ActionSA MP Dereleen James, who has separately probed alleged PA links to cartel figures, has not commented on Prim’s latest interview.