Dereleen James has laid criminal charges of intimidation against Gayton McKenzie. Image: Dereleen James (X)
Gayton McKenzie
1Min
South Africa
Dereleen James alleges she felt threatened following a social media post by the Sports Minister, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Dereleen James has laid criminal charges of intimidation against Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
The ActionSA MP on Tuesday opened the case after McKenzie posted a message on social media on Sunday saying, “The road is long.”
James said the remark, along with references to security, led her to feel threatened and exposed.
“I have just laid criminal charges of intimidation against Minister Gayton McKenzie. Attempts to intimidate me will not stop me from probing every possible link to the drug cartels destroying our community,” she wrote on X.
She added that attacks on her as a Member of Parliament carrying out her constitutional duties were unacceptable and would be addressed through legal channels.
“South Africans expect me to fight for them and the daily threats I receive, including attempts by a Minister to intimidate me, will not stop me,” James said.
McKenzie has denied the allegations, saying his comments were not intended as a threat. In a statement, he said references to his security detail were made solely to highlight what he described as the “practical impossibility” of the claims against him.
The minister added that he has referred a complaint regarding the matter to Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
