GANGS AND GOVERNANCE: Gayton McKenzie comes off as gangster’s proxy for sharing untested claims about JP Smith
In a video shared on social media, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says that a 28s gangster phoned him and claimed the City of Cape Town’s JP Smith once worked for an organised crime accused. The claim had yet to be probed. This means a Cabinet minister publicised the unchecked accusations of a gangster whose access to him is itself questionable.
In a video posted on social media, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie claimed that a member of the 28s gang called him and stated that City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, once worked for an alleged organised crime boss named Mark Lifman. McKenzie said he would investigate the claim further.
This is troubling as it shows how a Cabinet minister is legitimising untested accusations from a gangster, whose connection to him is questionable. Smith, who is a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), dismissed McKenzie's claim as a smear attempt by a rival politician. The controversy adds to other scandals involving Smith, including a recent SAPS raid of his office and a potential connection to a criminal cartel that has infiltrated the state.
McKenzie's actions do not suggest a careful approach, especially since the claimed caller is a 28s gangster, and there is no evidence to support his claims.
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