Kunene for Joburg: A 'Ruffian' for the Streets, or More of the Same?
The battle for Johannesburg's mayoral chain is heating up, and Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has thrown his weight behind Kenny Kunene, framing the choice as a stark one between action and empty promises. Speaking during the PA's Johannesburg campaign, McKenzie positioned Kunene as the only candidate willing to get his hands dirty in the fight against crime, while taking direct aim at Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson Helen Zille.
McKenzie's language was characteristically blunt. He declared that the people of Johannesburg need a “ruffian” like Kunene to confront criminals head-on, rather than a leader who would “stand back.” This is a direct challenge to Zille, whom McKenzie dismissed as out of touch, suggesting she should “join these other old people in the old age home.”
Why does McKenzie question Zille's track record in the townships?
McKenzie's critique of Zille was not just personal; it was rooted in a pointed question about her legacy in the Western Cape. He asked why the promises she is making to Soweto have not already been delivered in Black communities like Langa, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha. He extended this line of attack to Johannesburg's Eldorado Park, questioning why similar issues remain unaddressed in Mitchells Plain, Bellville, Valhalla Park, and Kraaifontein.
This line of questioning taps into a deep well of frustration with the DA's record in the Western Cape, where it has governed for years. For many, the DA's promises to Black and Coloured communities ring hollow, a sentiment McKenzie is keen to exploit. He is essentially asking: if the DA cannot deliver for these communities where it holds power, why should Johannesburg trust them now?
What is the PA's strategy for the Joburg coalition?
McKenzie was realistic about the PA's chances of winning an outright majority, describing himself as a “realist.” Instead, the PA is positioning itself as a kingmaker, aiming for a coalition of just three parties to avoid the instability of a ten-party pact. He stated the PA is willing to work with anyone who gives it power to deliver jobs, change lives, and bring clean water, and confirmed it is already working with the Freedom Front Plus.
He also took a swipe at the DA and Freedom Front Plus for ruling out working with the MK Party, calling their stance a form of “white supremacy.” McKenzie predicted a coalition involving the ANC, EFF, IFP, PA, and MK Party, and dismissed opinion polls, saying, “Polls are for strippers.”
What is the PA's stance on undocumented migrants?
McKenzie doubled down on the PA's hardline stance on undocumented migrants, arguing that those who advocate for them to stay do not face the same daily struggles over housing and schooling. He claimed that these advocates have medical aid and send their children to private schools, while ordinary South Africans compete with undocumented foreigners for basic resources.
He also suggested that some business leaders want to keep undocumented migrants to maintain access to cheap labour. McKenzie asserted that the PA's presence in government has already shifted the national conversation, saying, “We are inside. We've moved the needle.” He promised that under Kunene's leadership, undocumented migrants will be told to leave: “Mabahambe, they must go.”
Can Kunene deliver for Johannesburg?
The question remains whether Kunene, a controversial figure with a past as a nightclub owner and convicted fraudster, is the right person to lead Johannesburg. McKenzie's framing of him as a “ruffian” is a calculated attempt to rebrand this history as a strength, presenting him as someone who understands the streets and will not be intimidated by criminals.
For the residents of Johannesburg, the choice is becoming clearer. On one side is the DA, offering a familiar but contested record. On the other is the PA, offering a combative, no-nonsense approach. The ANC, despite its declining support, still holds significant sway. The upcoming election will be a test of whether McKenzie's blunt rhetoric and Kunene's tough-guy image can translate into real political power in South Africa's economic heartland.