🚨 Allegations in Prison Interview: Jermaine Prim Accuses Gayton McKenzie of Drug-Trail Links
In a new interview recorded from prison, Jermaine Prim has made far-reaching allegations involving South Africa Minister Gayton McKenzie, who oversees Sport, Arts and Culture and leads the Patriotic Alliance.
Prim’s claims, delivered in an exclusive discussion with eNCA, suggest that McKenzie allegedly has ties to individuals linked to the country’s drug trade. Prim also says he possesses information in the form of a voice recording, and that his own experiences in prison influenced how he says events unfolded.
Prim’s statements come after earlier allegations were raised publicly through written correspondence and parliamentary discussion. Now, lawmakers and commentators are calling for what they describe as proper scrutiny—especially given the seriousness of the accusations.
According to Prim, the core of his information comes from time spent in the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility, where he says he shared a cell with a businessman identified as Vusimuzi Matlala, also known as “Cat.”
Prim claims Matlala told him that McKenzie had connections to members of what Prim described as major drug networks, often referred to in criminal circles through the phrase “Big 5.” Prim did not present details in court form, but he said the account was relayed to him directly while both men were incarcerated.
Prim further alleges that a person he identifies as Katiso “KT” Molefe, who he describes as an alleged cartel participant, supplies drugs to McKenzie. He also claims McKenzie acts as a “proxy”—meaning an intermediary—between drug suppliers and broader criminal networks.
The most explosive part of Prim’s claims involves a supposed audio recording. Prim says he has a voice file that can connect McKenzie to both drug dealers and what Prim calls drug money.
While the nature of that recording and how it was obtained was not fully established in a public, verified manner during the interview, Prim insists the information is evidence that could matter if investigated.
Prim also says McKenzie’s influence became clear after the alleged recording came into the picture. He claims that once those in a position of power allegedly learned about the audio, he was moved to a more secure area—specifically the high-security C-Max section.
In Prim’s telling, that move was not random. Instead, he frames it as a reaction to information he says could harm McKenzie if it reached the right authorities.
This is not the first time Prim’s claims have resurfaced in public debate. Earlier, allegations reportedly began with a handwritten letter written by Prim, which later came up for discussion in parliamentary processes linked to crime.
During an Ad Hoc Committee on crime, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi reportedly referenced Prim’s letter during questioning, bringing Prim’s narrative further into national attention. That history is now shaping how people interpret Prim’s new prison interview.
The conversation around Prim’s claims has grown more heated because of what supporters and critics are saying about credibility and due process. Prim’s allegations are described as serious, but at this stage they remain unverified in a formal prosecutorial sense.
It is important to note that the claims currently circulating—despite their impact—are allegations, and authorities have not brought charges against McKenzie based specifically on Prim’s assertions. The letter itself was also characterized as hearsay, raising questions for those who want evidence tested under the right legal standards.
Still, many observers argue that the moment such claims involve a government minister and the drug economy, the country should not treat them as mere talk. They want independent action, including verification of any recordings and checks into how information was handled.
Prim also used the interview to make political claims, extending beyond criminal connections. He says the Patriotic Alliance was formed by the African National Congress with the aim of winning coloured votes.
Prim further claims that he supported the party previously by helping bring community backing, particularly in areas such as Eldorado Park. Whether those political assertions will be independently assessed is separate from the drug-related allegations, but they show Prim is framing his story as both criminal and political.
As the interview spreads online, the pressure on institutions to respond is likely to increase. Calls for a full and independent investigation are expected to intensify, especially from those who believe the alleged voice recording and prison testimony should be checked carefully.
At the same time, there will likely be legal and procedural scrutiny about what can be verified, what evidence can be authenticated, and what steps officials must take to avoid acting on unproven statements.
Prim’s allegations, if they are to mean anything in a legal or official sense, would need to be tested with credible processes—such as confirmation of the recording’s origin, corroboration from independent witnesses, and checks that tie claims to verifiable facts.
For now, McKenzie has not been proven to be involved in wrongdoing in relation to Prim’s claims, but the attention this story has drawn underscores how quickly serious accusations can reshape public debate in South Africa.
Ultimately, the next step—whether through law enforcement, parliamentary oversight, or independent review—will determine whether Prim’s account is treated as a claim that must be investigated urgently or as information that cannot be substantiated.