Gayton Mckenzie
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has fired a warning shot at the African National Congress (ANC), announcing his party’s plan to pull out of the government of national unity (GNU) and immediately withdraw from the ANC-led coalition in Johannesburg. The move stems from deep frustration over Mayor Dada Morero’s refusal to swiftly reinstate PA deputy leader Kenny Kunene as the city’s transport MMC. Speaking to eNCA on 24 September 2025 from the Western Cape, McKenzie accused Morero of disrespecting the PA and its supporters, likening the treatment to that of second-class citizens. This escalating dispute highlights cracks in South Africa’s fragile political alliances, just months after the GNU was formed following the May 2025 elections.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Kunene’s clearance from an internal probe, reigniting debates about governance, accountability, and service delivery in Johannesburg. With the 2026 local government elections looming, the PA’s threats could reshape coalitions in key metros and test the stability of the national unity government. McKenzie, who serves as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture in the GNU, emphasised that positions hold no sway over principles, stating he is ready to return to grassroots politics if needed.
Kunene’s Clearance: From Suspension to Reinstatement Demand
Kenny Kunene’s troubles began in July 2025 when police raided the Sandton home of businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe, a suspect in the 2022 murder of DJ Sumbody (Oupa John Sefoka) and other related crimes. Kunene was found at the scene, prompting his immediate suspension from the PA and resignation as Johannesburg’s transport MMC and councillor. PA leader Gayton McKenzie, in a video posted to social media, described the decision as necessary for accountability, despite believing Kunene was innocent, saying, “I have decided to suspend Kunene for getting himself involved with murderers. I know he is not guilty, but he must explain himself before an independent panel of lawyers.”
An independent investigation by law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, commissioned by the PA, cleared Kunene of any wrongdoing on 23 September 2025. The report corroborated Kunene’s explanation that he was at Molefe’s property to facilitate an exclusive interview for his media platform, Africa News Global. Witnesses, including a young journalist, editor Steve Motale, and a tipster named Jabu, supported his account, though police and Molefe (who remains in custody) were not interviewed. PA secretary-general Chinelle Stevens confirmed, “The report conclusively states that Mr Kunene’s explanation that he was at the property to facilitate an exclusive journalistic interview for Africa News Global has been fully corroborated by witness testimonies and evidence.”
With the suspension lifted, Kunene resumed his role as PA deputy president and demanded his return to the transport MMC position. In an interview on SABC’s Face the Nation on 23 September 2025, he accused Morero of stalling and acting as the de facto transport MMC himself, calling it “unheard of.” Kunene revealed that Morero had attempted to swap his portfolio with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for public safety, a move he rejected. He stressed that the PA had negotiated a five-year term for the transport role as part of the coalition deal.
Ultimatum to ANC: Seven Days or Walk Away
McKenzie issued a stern seven-day ultimatum to the ANC on 22 September 2025 via a Facebook Live broadcast, demanding Kunene’s reinstatement by Monday, 29 September 2025. Failure to comply, he warned, would see the PA exit all coalitions with the ANC, including in JB Marks Municipality and others. “Within seven days, if Kunene is not back in his position, every PA member in JB Marks Municipality, every PA coalition with the ANC, you withdraw with immediate effect,” McKenzie stated. He added, “We are not going to be told by Dada Morero. Who does Dada think he is?”
The PA confirmed its intention to withdraw from the GNU, citing a lack of respect at local level despite an agreement among GNU partners to resolve national disputes internally. McKenzie told eNCA, “We want to be treated with respect. We can’t be treated like that by Dada Morero. He’s got something against us, and we see it in how he treats the people of Westbury, he can’t even give our people water.”
ANC Johannesburg spokesperson Masilo Serekele responded by acknowledging the coalition but rejecting the pressure tactics. “As the ANC, we know that we are in a coalition with the Patriotic Alliance, but what we will not appreciate is the PA putting a gun to our heads,” he said. Serekele noted that Kunene had resigned, and no formal communication about his reinstatement had been received beyond media reports. He assured that the ANC would meet with the PA during the week to discuss the MMC vacancy and honour their agreement, calling the ultimatum “unnecessary.”
Following McKenzie’s announcement, the ANC initiated talks with the PA to salvage the GNU. An eNCA report on 24 September 2025 highlighted that these discussions focus on the future of the national unity government, amid McKenzie’s claims of mistreatment by Morero.
Water Woes in Westbury: A Flashpoint for Community Anger
McKenzie linked the political spat to broader service delivery failures, particularly in coloured communities like Westbury, Coronationville, and Newlands. Residents in these areas protested in early September 2025 over prolonged water outages, demanding the city restore supply. The Johannesburg municipality initially promised resolution within seven days, but Morero later admitted the plan failed due to technical issues. He outlined a new intervention to install a pipe drawing water from the Crosby reservoir, aiming for a permanent fix.
McKenzie accused Morero of bias, saying the mayor’s handling of the crisis shows disdain for PA strongholds. “He’s got something against us, and we see it in how he treats the people of Westbury,” McKenzie said. These areas, historically plagued by gang violence and poverty, have been key to the PA’s support base, with McKenzie and Kunene positioning themselves as champions against crime and neglect.
Kunene’s Mayoral Bid and Jabs at Helen Zille
Adding fuel to the fire, Kunene announced his candidacy for Johannesburg mayor under the PA banner on 15 September 2025, despite his then-ongoing suspension. He positioned himself as a proven leader, claiming his brief acting stint as mayor stabilised transport and made it the city’s top-performing department. “People have been saying we saw your work… when you acted as the mayor… Please can you stand as the mayor, we’ll vote for you,” Kunene said.
Kunene took sharp aim at the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) choice of Helen Zille as their mayoral candidate, calling it an “insult” to Johannesburg residents. “The DA insulted the residents of Johannesburg to bring an old age home to come and lead Johannesburg… She failed in Cape Town. She was the mayor for the suburbs, not for Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain,” he blasted during his SABC interview. Zille, a former Cape Town mayor and current DA federal chair, was unveiled as the party’s pick amid ongoing coalition instability in Johannesburg, which has seen eight mayors in two years.
Kunene also detailed an unrelated extortion attempt he helped bust in June 2025, involving a fake Hawks officer demanding R50,000. He collaborated with real Hawks officials, leading to the arrest of Thato Masitenyane, a police reservist, at Makro Woodmead. “I could have just blocked him, but I thought of many South Africans who fall prey to these criminals,” Kunene explained.
