Gayton McKenzie's Fallout Threatens South Africa's Fragile GNU

The scandal trail that put McKenzie in the spotlight

Since taking the sports, arts and culture portfolio, Gayton McKenzie has been a magnet for headlines. The former 26s gang boss turned Patriotic Alliance leader has seen his past repeatedly resurfaced, turning routine ministerial duties into a public relations nightmare. In August 2025, a cache of old social‑media posts emerged, laced with apartheid‑era slurs aimed at black South Africans. ActionSA slammed the revelations and filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, while the EFF demanded his immediate sack.

McKenzie brushed the episode off as a smear campaign, claiming political rivals were out to “silence” his voice. Yet the incident sparked a broader debate about whether someone with such a record should occupy a high‑profile cabinet position in a democracy still healing from its apartheid legacy.

Corruption allegations added fuel to the fire. As mayor of the Central Karoo District in 2022, McKenzie organised a gala in Sandton that raised R3 million earmarked for municipal service delivery. The money never hit the municipal accounts; instead it turned up in the bank account of Eugene Botha, the Patriotic Alliance’s national head of legal affairs. Botha insisted it was a party donation, prompting the Western Cape High Court to order McKenzie and Botha’s law firm to hand over documents to investigators.

Further complications arose from alleged gang connections. A 2022 incident saw McKenzie involved in moving Eldorado Park gangster Jermaine Prim between security facilities – a move described as part of a larger gang war. In 2024, the Mail & Guardian claimed the Patriotic Alliance was receiving funding from the daughter of the slain 27s boss William "Red" Stevens, a claim McKenzie has consistently denied.

How the GNU is testing its limits

The Patriotic Alliance’s latest threat – to pull out of the Government of National Unity (GNU) – could upend the delicate balance that has held the ANC‑led coalition together since the 2019 elections. In September 2025, McKenzie announced his party would exit the GNU, accusing coalition partners of disrespect and accusing the ANC of sidelining his deputy, Kenny Kunene, from the Johannesburg mayoral committee.

This move would be more than a symbolic gesture. The GNU relies on smaller parties like the Patriotic Alliance to provide a parliamentary majority and to project an image of inclusive governance. Losing the PA could force the ANC to forge new alliances, possibly with the main opposition – the Democratic Alliance – a partnership that seems contradictory given their historical rivalry.

Political analysts point out that the timing is no accident. The dispute over Kunene’s removal coincides with mounting friction over policy priorities, budget allocations, and the distribution of key ministries. McKenzie’s claim that the ANC is waging a "silent war" against his party underscores a deeper mistrust that has been simmering since the coalition’s inception.

Beyond the immediate power‑play, the controversy raises questions about the very idea of a national unity government in a country as polarized as South Africa. When parties with wildly different ideologies – from the left‑leaning Economic Freedom Fighters to the centrist Democratic Alliance, and now a party led by a former gang leader – are forced to share a governing platform, conflict is almost inevitable.

Supporters of McKenzie argue that his hands‑on approach as minister – regularly attending cultural events, pushing for sports development in under‑served townships, and championing youth arts programmes – demonstrates that he brings more than controversy to the table. They cite tangible outcomes, such as increased funding for rural arts festivals and a modest rise in sports facility upgrades.

Critics, however, warn that any short‑term gains are outweighed by the long‑term damage to institutional credibility. They point to the erosion of public trust when a cabinet member’s personal history repeatedly becomes a headline, especially when that history includes violent crime and alleged financial misconduct.

As the GNU navigates this turbulence, the stakes extend beyond party politics. South Africa’s economy, still wrestling with high unemployment and sluggish growth, depends on stable governance to attract investment. Continued infighting could deter foreign investors and exacerbate fiscal pressures already felt across the nation.

Meanwhile, civil society groups are monitoring the situation closely. Several NGOs have called for an independent parliamentary inquiry into the missing R3 million and the alleged gang funding, urging the parliament to enforce stricter vetting standards for cabinet appointments.

The next few weeks will likely reveal whether McKenzie’s threat is a strategic bargaining chip or a genuine move toward an exit. If the Patriotic Alliance does pull out, the GNU will have to confront a harsh reality: a coalition built on compromise may not survive when the underlying mistrust becomes too great to bridge.