ActionSA pursues intimidation charges against Gayton McKenzie over Dereleen James

Herman Mashaba has announced that ActionSA intends to open an intimidation case against
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie following controversial remarks he made
about the party’s Member of Parliament, Dereleen James.
Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Mashaba said he was taken aback by a
Facebook Live broadcast in which McKenzie referenced his taxpayer-funded security and
warned James to “watch herself.”
During the livestream, McKenzie suggested he was aware of individuals behind criticism
directed at him, stating that he is under constant security protection and dismissing the backlash
while cautioning those involved.
Mashaba described the comments as “deeply worrying and concerning,” adding that he had
reached out to James to verify the situation. He said the tensions arose from issues she raised in
Parliament, rather than from informal or external criticism.
According to Mashaba, James had been scrutinising McKenzie over what he described as
“extravagant and frequent international travel,” as well as an alleged lack of accountability
regarding those trips.
Independent Online (IOL) previously reported that Dereleen James had criticised Gayton
McKenzie for what she described as a failure to properly account for the costs of more than 20
taxpayer-funded international trips.
James said the minister had “once again chosen evasion over accountability,” arguing that his
reply to a formal parliamentary question did not provide the detailed cost breakdown required.
She labelled the response “a bloated travelogue masquerading as a clear answer,” adding that
both McKenzie and his deputy had not disclosed the full expenses linked to several overseas
visits.
The ActionSA MP also raised questions during a committee meeting with Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi,
asking whether authorities had investigated the presence of Kenny Kunene at the home of
alleged criminal figure Katiso 'KT' Molefe at the time of an arrest.
Herman Mashaba reiterated that ActionSA would not tolerate what it views as intimidation,
stressing the party’s firm stance against threats.
“I cannot accept — we cannot accept, as ActionSA — that anyone would use a threat,” Mashaba
said, referencing South Africa’s history and the lasting trauma experienced by families during
the apartheid era.