Kunene promises jobs, housing and tougher immigration enforcement - IOL

Kenny Kunene, the Patriotic Alliance’s (PA) mayoral candidate, addressed a crowd filled with optimism and fervour as he unveiled the party's new slogan, “Net vir die ding”.

With the new slogan, “Net vir die ding (Just for the thing)”, the Patriotic Alliance's (PA) mayoral candidate, Kenny Kunene, led the party's final election rally campaign in a packed Uncle Tom's Hall in Orlando West, Soweto. The outgoing MMC for Roads and Transport emphasised the importance of faith in political leadership and vowed to return Johannesburg to the “hands of God” if elected.

Kunene commenced his stirring speech with a faith-based message to fellow leaders.

“The PA is the only party that puts God in its manifesto, and we give glory to God, which is why wonderful things are happening. We pray before we start our meetings, and we have grown from strength to strength,” he proclaimed, underscoring the party’s belief in divine guidance.

Articulating his vision for Johannesburg, Kunene shared an ambitious agenda to address pressing issues affecting the city's residents. He highlighted plans to combat youth unemployment, initiate housing projects, and ensure widespread free connectivity across all regions of the city.

“We will make sure that we create jobs. I am going to create 256, 000 jobs through the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) in each and every ward. The plan is already in motion. I have started it. When you make me mayor, I am just going to implement it,” he stated.

On water challenges, housing, and power infrastructure, he stated: “Net vir die ding, I am going to fix the water problems in Johannesburg. Net vir die ding, I am going to give the people of Soweto a flat rate on electricity after speaking to Eskom. Net vir die ding, I am going to make sure grandmothers enjoy light even at night and not only during the day. We will build houses and not flats and renovate old-age homes which are dilapidated,” he added.

He also did not shy away from confronting the current migration crisis, which has resulted in protests and the burning of cars in parts of Soweto and Joburg CBD, adding that he will set up a task team within his first  30 days to deal with immigration. This task team, he said, would be duty-bound to chase away illegal immigrants every day in the city

“When I become the mayor of Johannesburg, the city will be a no-go zone for illegal immigrants, unapologetically so. We cannot allow people who are not documented to hijack buildings and homes. I will use the courts and the legal system to reclaim hijacked buildings, auction them to those who can buy them,” Kunene told cheering party members, branch and PR councillors.