Gayton McKenzie

Last updated

Founder of the Patriotic Alliance
Nicolette Joubert
​
(m. 2003)​
Gayton McKenzie
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture
Assumed office
2 July 2024
Assumed office
15 November 2013
Children2
Occupation
  • Businessman
  • politician
  • motivational speaker
  • author
  • activist

Gayton McKenzie (born 10 March 1974) is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture since July 2024.

Contents

He is a former criminal who was jailed for robbery for 17 years. [2] [3] [4] He is a businessman, motivational speaker, author and former Executive Mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality in South Africa. He is also the president of the Patriotic Alliance political party. [5] He came to prominence in the early 2000s for his role in a prison exposé that eventually led to his early release amid an investigation of prison corruption by the Jali Commission of Inquiry. [6] McKenzie grew up in the Heidedal neighborhood of Bloemfontein, South Africa. [7]

Business activities

McKenzie used his story of changing from a life of crime [8] during the apartheid years in South Africa to attaining success as a businessman as the basis for his popular motivational talks. He travelled to many schools in South Africa during his early years as a speaker, sponsored by a security company. [9]

He has gone on to work as a consultant in the mining industry in Zimbabwe [10] and runs a diversified business with interests in restaurants, hotels and events venues, logistics and transport, imports, mining, energy, entertainment and events, publishing and farming.

Publishing

Many of his books have been bestsellers in South Africa, starting with The Choice: The Gayton McKenzie Story. [11] Other books include A Hustler's Bible, [12] The Uncomfortable Truth, [13] Trapped, [14] Kill Zuma By Any Means Necessary, [15] and A Hustler's Bible, The New Testament. [16]

Politics

McKenzie launched the Patriotic Alliance political party on 30 November 2013, and became the party's first president. McKenzie, along with long-time friend Kenny Kunene, have become known for using open letters to provoke political debate, cause controversy and attract attention. [17] Kunene left the Economic Freedom Fighters months after its formation [18] before helping to launch the Patriotic Alliance.

At the end of April 2014, just more than a week before the elections of 7 May, McKenzie wrote a highly critical open letter to Economic Freedom Fighters president Julius Malema, which gained widespread attention. [19] In the letter and in subsequent interviews, McKenzie referred to Malema as the "biggest threat facing South Africa". This was based partly on the EFF's policies on land expropriation and nationalisation. The primary criticism, however, was focused on the character of Malema himself, whom he accused of not being a real revolutionary, a "false prophet" whose promises would take South Africa to civil war and someone who had "stolen" significant amounts of public money during his political ascent. [19] Malema dismissed the letter as predictable rhetoric prior to an election. [20]

Controversies

Corruption

In 2022, then Central Karoo District Municipality mayor, Gayton McKenzie raised R3 million for service delivery at a gala dinner fundraising event in Sandton. The money was never deposited into the municipality's bank accounts. [21] In 2023, Eugene Botha, national head of legal affairs for the Patriotic Alliance and whose bank account the money was later found, said that the money would be treated as a donation to the Patriotic Alliance and declared to the IEC. [22] [23] In 2024, the Western Cape High Court ordered that McKenzie and the law firm linked to Botha, Botha E & Erasmus Y Inc, hand over relevant documents to investigators looking into allegations of corruption. [24]

Gang ties

Gayton McKenzie, a convicted former criminal and 26s gang boss who was jailed for robbery for 17 years, has been linked to gang members as party leader of the Patriotic Alliance. [25] [26]

In 2022, McKenzie was involved in the transfer of Eldorado Park gangster Jermaine Prim from a medium-security to a maximum-security facility; a move described as part of a gang war. In 2024, a Mail & Guardian investigation alleged McKenzie's party is funded by the daughter of slain 27s gang boss, William “Red” Stevens; McKenzie denied the claims made in an audio recording by its regional treasurer. [27]

Related Research Articles

South Africa since 1994 transitioned from the system of apartheid to one of majority rule. The election of 1994 resulted in a change in government with the African National Congress (ANC) coming to power. The ANC retained power after subsequent elections in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. Children born during this period are known as the born-free generation, and those aged eighteen or older, were able to vote for the first time in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Malema</span> South African politician (born 1981)

Julius Sello Malema is a South African politician. He is the founder and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a populist far-left political party known for the red berets and military-style outfits worn by its members. Before foundation of EFF, he served as president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) from 2008 until his expulsion from the party in 2012.

Baaitse Elizabeth "Bess" Nkabinde-Mmono is a South African retired judge who served in the Constitutional Court of South Africa from January 2006 to December 2017. During that time, she was acting Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa from 23 May 2016 to 7 June 2017. She joined the bench in November 1999 as a judge of the Bophuthatswana Provincial Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Kunene</span> South African businessman and ex-convict

Kenny Kunene is a South African businessman, politician, motivational speaker, teacher, activist and former convict. Kunene currently serves as Deputy President of the Patriotic Alliance. He served as Secretary-General of the Patriotic Alliance from 2013 to 2014. While working as a high school English teacher, Kunene opened a shebeen selling alcohol after work and began engaging in criminal activities including robberies and fraud. In 1997, he was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme for which he served six years in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 South African general election</span>

General elections were held in South Africa on 7 May 2014, to elect a new National Assembly and new provincial legislatures in each province. It was the fifth election held in South Africa under conditions of universal adult suffrage since the end of the apartheid era in 1994, and also the first held since the death of Nelson Mandela. It was also the first time that South African expatriates were allowed to vote in a South African national election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economic Freedom Fighters</span> Far-left political party in South Africa

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African communist and black nationalist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema, and his allies, in 2013. Malema is president of the EFF, heading the Central Command Team, which serves as the central structure of the party. It is currently the fourth-largest party in the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patriotic Alliance</span> South African political party

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) is a South African political party, formed in November 2013 by, among others, businessmen Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene.

Heidedal is a suburb of the city of Bloemfontein in South Africa.

<i>Economic Freedom Fighters v Speaker of the National Assembly</i> 2016 South African legal case

Economic Freedom Fighters v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others; Democratic Alliance v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others [2016] ZACC 11 is an important judgment of the Constitutional Court of South Africa which finds that President Jacob Zuma breached the South African Constitution by failing to implement the recommendations in the Public Protector's Nkandla report.

Mbuyiseni Quintin Ndlozi MP is a South African politician and political activist. He has been a Member of the National Assembly, representing the Economic Freedom Fighters, since 2014. He also served as the first official spokesperson for the party until his resignation in 2020. He was replaced as party spokesperson by fellow member of the Economic Freedom Fighters, youth activist Vuyani Pambo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayanda Dlodlo</span> South African politician

Ayanda Dlodlo is a South African politician and former cabinet minister. A former member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, she became a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress (ANC) in 2009. Thereafter, she was appointed Minister of Communications (2017), Minister of Home Affairs (2017–2018), Minister of Public Service and Administration, and Minister of State Security (2019–2021).

<i>The Presidents Keepers</i> Book by Jacques Pauw

The President's Keepers: Those Keeping Zuma in Power and out of Prison a 2017 book by Jacques Pauw, a South African investigative journalist, about allegedly corrupt and compromised power networks in the South African government under President Jacob Zuma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 South African presidential election</span>

A presidential election was held in the National Assembly in South Africa on 15 February 2018 following the resignation of Jacob Zuma on 14 February. Acting president Cyril Ramaphosa of the ruling African National Congress won the election unopposed due to no other party nominating a candidate. Ramaphosa was sworn in by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng at 5pm, 15 February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VBS Mutual Bank</span> Defunct South African mutual bank

VBS Mutual Bank was a South African mutual bank. In 2018 it was declared insolvent and bankrupt and placed under curatorship, with South African citizens and taxpayers defrauded out of roughly R2 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political parties that contested the 2019 South African general election</span> Parties that contested the 2019 South African general election

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced on 20 March 2019 that a record number of 48 parties had registered candidates for the national parliamentary election. This is 19 more parties that contested the 2014 national elections. In the provincial legislature elections, the total number of parties registering candidates were:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 South African general election</span> Election

General elections were held in South Africa on 29 May 2024 to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each of the nine provinces. This was the 7th general election held under the conditions of universal adult suffrage since the end of the apartheid era in 1994. The new National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will be elected at the first sitting of each provincial legislature.

David Masondo is a South African politician who is currently serving as Deputy Minister of Finance since May 2019. He is also the second deputy general secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC).

<i>Our Poisoned Land</i>

Our Poisoned Land: Living in the Shadows of Zuma's Keepers a 2022 book by Jacques Pauw, a South African investigative journalist, about the allegedly corrupt power networks between the South African government and the country's political elite, most notably the African National Congress (ANC). The book follows on from Pauw's 2017 book The President's Keepers but with greater focus on government institutions not looked at in the previous book and the State Security Agency (SSA). It is updated to include findings from government committees and investigations such as the Zondo Commission. It asks why, after 5 years since the end of the Zuma administration, have most people implicated in state corruption still not been prosecuted and examines efforts to fight corruption in the post-Jacob Zuma ANC government under Cyril Ramaphosa.

Following the 2024 South African general election on 29 May 2024, negotiations commenced on the formation of the next presidential cabinet.

References

  1. ↑ "Gayton McKenzie Biography, Age, Wife, Education, Career, Net Worth". City Media. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Gayton McKenzie: I robbed a bank before age 16". Power 98.7. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "Jail rape melted the ice in brutal gangster's heart". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. ↑ Dolley, Caryn (30 August 2021). "Road to Local ELections: What do a gangster, a pastor and sushi have in common? The Patriotic Alliance". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  5. ↑ McKenzie, Gayton. "Thug to Thug - Gayton McKenzie's harsh open letter to Julius Malema". Times LIVE.
  6. ↑ "COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF CORRUPTION, MALADMINISTRATION, VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES APPOINTED BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA IN TERMS OF PROCLAMATION NO. 135 OF 2001, AS AMENDED" (PDF). Government Communication and Information System . Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Khumalo, Juniour. "Patriotic Alliance's Gayton McKenzie accused of lies, deceit by residents of his former home town". News24. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  8. ↑ The Citizen 2017 Retrieved 6 April 2017
  9. ↑ "Gayton McKenzie Motivational Speaker". gaytonmckenzie.blogspot.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "Gold Fields response to Carte Blanche report on BEE deal - About Politicsweb | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Choice". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  12. ↑ "A Hustlers Bible - Exclusive Books". www.exclusivebooks.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  13. ↑ "The Uncomfortable Truth". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  14. ↑ Pantsi, Nandipha. "Gayton McKenzie launches 'Trapped'". The Citizen. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  15. ↑ McKenzie, Gayton. "Kill Zuma By Any Means Necessary".
  16. ↑ "A Hustler's Bible, the New Testament : Gayton McKenzie : 9780620750950". www.bookdepository.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  17. ↑ Kunene, Kenny. "Kenny Kunene's letter to Zuma". IOL.
  18. ↑ "Kenny Kunene quits EFF". Sowetan LIVE.
  19. 1 2 "Hard-hitting open letter to Julius Malema". News24.
  20. ↑ "Malema responds to open letter". News24.
  21. ↑ Charles, Marvin. "Pressure mounts on Central Karoo District over Gayton McKenzie's missing millions". News24. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  22. ↑ Payne, Suné (29 June 2023). "'Missing' R3m from Gayton McKenzie fundraiser at centre of latest DA, PA strife". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  23. ↑ Karrim, Azarrah. "McKenzie's millions: The lawyer, the R3m Karoo cash and the PA-linked trust account". News24. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  24. ↑ Payne, Suné (4 June 2024). "Gayton McKenzie ordered to hand over documents for corruption probe". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  25. ↑ "Gang links to new parties".
  26. ↑ "'Only I can take on drug lords and mafias': Former gang boss Gayton McKenzie".
  27. ↑ Koko, Khaya (12 January 2024). "Recording alleges that gangsters, drugs fund the Patriotic Alliance". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.