Gayton McKenzie vows to step down as minister of Sports, Arts and Culture
The leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Gayton McKenzie, has declared his intention to resign from his position as South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, effective at the end of September 2025.
His resignation is a result of escalating tensions between his party and the African National Congress (ANC), coming shortly after the PA announced its withdrawal from all coalition agreements with the ruling party.
In a statement posted to the PA’s official Facebook group, McKenzie confirmed he would officially leave his role on September 30.
He indicated that the relationship between the PA and the ANC had deteriorated, primarily due to conflicts over political appointments in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
McKenzie mentioned that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had exerted pressure on the ANC to prevent the PA from joining the Ekurhuleni coalition.
Initially, the PA sought both the Human Settlements and Transport portfolios in Johannesburg, but later conceded the Human Settlements portfolio to the Inkatha Freedom Party.
The situation intensified when the party suspended its deputy president, Kenny Kunene, following his association with a controversial event during the arrest of Katiso Molefe, who faces murder charges.
The ANC’s rejection of the PA’s choice, Liam Jacobs, to replace Kunene only served to widen the existing divide.
McKenzie expressed that tensions rose sharply when residents in Westbury, Newclare, and Coronationville experienced prolonged water shortages.
“Those communities went without water for weeks but would see the water trucks go to squatter camps next door,” he remarked.
He reiterated his demand to the ANC: restore Kunene to his role as Johannesburg’s MMC for Transport or risk the complete withdrawal of PA support, even within the Government of National Unity.
“They have pushed us too far. We shall go to the ground,” McKenzie asserted.
