South African Minister Gayton McKenzie airs gangster's unverified claims against Cape Town official JP Smith

South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie publicly shared unverified claims from a 28s gang member alleging Cape Town official JP Smith worked for slain crime boss Mark Lifman, without first confirming the information. McKenzie, leader of the Patriotic Alliance, said in a social media video that a gangster phoned him with the accusation about Smith, a Democratic Alliance mayoral committee member. Smith dismissed it as a smear attempt. McKenzie's office did not respond to media queries about the video's authenticity. The claims emerge amid ongoing investigations into gang-state links, including the Madlanga Commission. Smith has faced previous allegations, including a court-declared unlawful police raid on his office. Gang-related murders in South Africa totaled 251 between April and June 2026, with 217 in the Western Cape.