By Johnathan Paoli
Patriotic Alliance (PA) president Gayton McKenzie vowed that he and all PA officials will resign from government if Kenny Kunene is not reinstated to Johannesburg’s mayoral committee.
Speaking after the swearing in of the party’s deputy president and MMC of Roads and Transport as a councilor of Johannesburg, McKenzie expressed doubt regarding the intentions of the ANC in not reinstating Kunene to his full former position.
“That’s not good enough for us. Our deal is not for him to be a councillor. Our deal [with the ANC] is he will be MMC for roads and transport. If Tuesday Kenny Kunene has not been told he’s going back, I will resign. It will not only be me, the whole PA, all the Speakers, you will have a mass exodus,” McKenzie declared.
The minister made the threat during a ceremony honouring former political prisoners on Robben Island on Saturday, confirming that his party’s participation in the Government of National Unity (GNU) hangs in the balance.
McKenzie described the unfolding tensions as part of a broader struggle for “fair treatment” of PA leaders within both national and local coalition structures.
Kunene, the PA’s deputy president, was re-sworn as a Johannesburg councillor on Friday after resigning two months ago from both the council and his post as Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport.
His resignation followed controversy after he was found at the home of murder-accused businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe during a police bust.
Molefe, who is in custody, is accused of orchestrating the killing of musician and entrepreneur Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka.
An independent investigation by law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr cleared Kunene of any wrongdoing, prompting the PA to reinstate him to party structures.
However, McKenzie insists that Kunene’s return as councillor falls short of the agreement the PA struck with the ANC.
“Kenny resigned before the probe concluded to shield him from relentless media attacks, but he was always meant to return to the MMC position once cleared. This stalling is unacceptable,” McKenzie argued.
The ANC in Johannesburg, led by Mayor Dada Morero, has reportedly resisted reinstating Kunene as MMC, with McKenzie claiming the position was instead offered to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
He accused the ANC of trying to dictate to the PA whom it may deploy, calling the move a violation of coalition agreements.
“The PA has the right to fill that position with any individual we deem fit. The MMC seat belongs to the party, not to an individual, and attempts to prescribe to us are humiliating,” McKenzie said.
He added that the party had even withdrawn Liam Jacobs, a former DA MP who briefly occupied the Joburg councillor seat, to ensure Kunene’s reinstatement.
Despite his combative stance, McKenzie emphasised that the PA would continue to support President Cyril Ramaphosa and uphold its commitments in the GNU.
He explained his threatened resignation as an act of solidarity with his party, and tied the crisis to failures in service delivery in communities the PA represents, citing water shortages in areas like Westbury, Newclare, and Coronationville.
McKenzie confirmed that if Kunene is not reinstated by Tuesday, the PA will withdraw not only from Johannesburg but from all coalition governments at local, provincial, and national levels where it partners with the ANC.
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