Opposition parties have called for urgent investigations into Sport and Arts Minister Gayton McKenzie and Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe over separate allegations of misconduct.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has raised concerns about alleged irregular conduct within Correctional Services, including the transfer and treatment of inmate Jermaine Prim.
Prim, a convicted fraudster serving time for fraud, scams and theft, gave a controversial telephonic interview to eNCA in late March in which he made allegations about his relationship with McKenzie and claimed the Patriotic Alliance, led by McKenzie, acts as a proxy for drug syndicates.
The Department of Correctional Services has launched an investigation into how the interview was conducted without official approval, calling it a breach of protocol. McKenzie has denied the allegations, calling them false and defamatory, and has threatened legal action against eNCA, its editor, journalist Heidi Giokos, and the correctional services minister and commissioner.
“At this stage, the MK Party makes no definitive findings. However, the seriousness of the allegations, if proven, may point to procedural irregularities and potential violations of constitutional rights, including the rights to dignity, lawful administrative action and conditions of detention consistent with human rights,” the party said in a statement.
The MK Party has called on the Hawks and the minister to investigate the relationship between the Correctional Services commissioner, C-Max head of prisons and Minister McKenzie.
The Democratic Alliance has written to the South African Police Service, the South African Revenue Service, the Hawks and the Independent Electoral Commission requesting urgent investigations into the Patriotic Alliance and McKenzie’s alleged links to organised crime.
The DA has called for investigations into how McKenzie allegedly benefits from drug-related income to fund his political party.
“We call for SARS to conduct lifestyle audits on McKenzie and top leadership. The National Police Commissioner and Hawks to probe these explosive claims. The IEC to start acting on the Political Party Funding Act,” the party said.
McKenzie’s alleged links to drug-related organised crime were recently highlighted at the Madlanga Commission. The allegations were supported by a leaked voice recording last week in which a Johannesburg-based PA ward councillor alleged that the PA is running drug businesses, that she was taken by a PA member to a drug house of a senior PA leader, and that she has video evidence.
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Meanwhile, Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe faces allegations that she misled Parliament about two luxury SUVs. According to a Daily Maverick investigation, Tolashe told Parliament in April that the vehicles were donated to the ANC Women’s League, but the investigation found the cars were given to her two children for personal use and were not declared as donations.
Tolashe has previously faced allegations of misleading Parliament and irregular appointments within her department. The DA filed an ethics complaint against her in October 2025 for allegedly misleading Parliament about employment matters, including those concerning the department’s director-general.
The DA said authorities must investigate thoroughly, urgently and without fear or favour.
“South Africans deserve the truth. These are serious allegations,” the party said.
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