McKenzie backs Kunene for Joburg, questions what Zille can offer - IOL
PA leader Gayton McKenzie has backed Kenny Kunene for Johannesburg mayor, while questioning Helen Zille’s record and saying the city needs a different approach to tackling crime.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie has backed Kenny Kunene as the person Johannesburg needs to tackle crime, describing him as a “ruffian” while taking aim at Democratic Alliance federal chair Helen Zille, her party's pick for the city's mayor.
Speaking to the media during the PA’s Johannesburg campaign, McKenzie said the city needed someone who would confront criminals rather than “stand back”.
“I’m saying the people of Joburg need a ruffian like Kenny Kunene to attack the criminals. Not someone who's going to stand back. So Kenny Kunene is the best person,” he said.
McKenzie also criticised Zille, questioning what she could do to address Johannesburg’s problems.
“And the worst one is Helen Zille. She must just join these other old people in the old age home,” he said.
McKenzie said Zille should focus on her own affairs rather than trying to lead Johannesburg.
He questioned why promises he said Zille was making to Soweto had not been delivered in communities in the Western Cape.
“Ask yourself one question about Helen Zille. The things she says she's going to do for Soweto, why has she not done them for Langa? Why has she not done them for Gugulethu? Why has she not done them for Khayelitsha?” McKenzie asked.
He also questioned Zille's promises concerning Eldorado Park in Johannesburg, asking why similar issues had not been addressed in Mitchells Plain, Bellville, Valhalla Park and Kraaifontein in the Cape.
Kenny Kunene has the firm backing of PA leader Gayton McKenzie to become mayor of Johannesburg.
McKenzie said the PA was prepared to work with other parties if doing so gave it the power to implement its priorities.
“The PA will work with anybody that gives us power. Power to give jobs. Power to change people's lives. Power to bring clean water,” he said.
McKenzie said the PA was already working with the Freedom Front Plus.
He did not expect the PA to win an outright majority in Johannesburg, describing himself as a realist, but the PA wanted enough support to avoid a coalition involving 10 parties, adding: “Let it be three parties.”
McKenzie also criticised the DA and Freedom Front Plus for ruling out working with the MK Party.
“I've seen these people, the Freedom Front Plus. It's just white supremacy of the DA and the Freedom Front Plus to say 'we will not work with MK'. We will not work with what? Who do they think they are?” he said.
McKenzie said he expected a Johannesburg coalition involving the ANC, EFF, IFP, PA and MK Party.
He also dismissed the influence of opinion polls, saying they had previously underestimated the PA's support.
“I don't believe in polls. Polls are for strippers,” McKenzie said.
He acknowledged that the ANC continued to have support, but maintained that Kunene would become Johannesburg mayor.
“The ANC has been winning by-elections. Whether we like it or not, the ANC still has support.”
McKenzie said people calling for undocumented migrants to remain in the country did not face the same pressures over housing and schooling as those who want them to leave.
“The people that want illegal immigrants to stay, they have medical aid. They don't have housing problems. They don't compete with illegal foreigners for housing. They don't compete with illegal foreigners to get their kids into school. Our kids go to private school. Our kids go to private hospitals.”
McKenzie said some business leaders wanted to retain access to cheap labour provided by undocumented migrants.
He said the PA's presence in government had influenced the government's position on the issue.
“We are inside. We've moved the needle. I'm not sitting there and smiling the whole time in Cabinet. I'm talking when it comes to illegal foreigners. I'm saying: Mabahambe, they must go. And under the leadership of Kenny Kunene, they will go, trust me.”
