JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Kenny Kunene, the prominent businessman-turned-politician, has abruptly resigned from his senior roles in the City of Johannesburg government, citing a need to clear his name from “unfounded allegations.” However, his political party, the Patriotic Alliance (PA), has simultaneously suspended him as its Deputy President, revealing the allegation relates to his presence at the home of a suspected member of a murder syndicate.
The dual developments, which unfolded through official letters all dated July 25, have created conflicting narratives surrounding the departure of a key figure in the city’s administration.
In two nearly identical letters of resignation sent to Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor and the City Speaker, Mr. Kunene announced he was stepping down as a Proportional Representation (PR) Councillor and, consequently, as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport.
“I regret to inform you that I have tendered my resignation… effective immediately,” he wrote. Kunene framed the move as a principled decision, stating, “it would be in the public interest for me to await the clearing of my name before considering a return to public service and duty.” In the letters, he highlighted his work, asserting he had “always committed myself to serve the residents of Johannesburg with vigour, authenticity, and vision,” and worked to challenge “systemic rot within our institutions.”
In stark contrast, a letter from Patriotic Alliance President Gayton McKenzie to the party’s Secretary-General casts the situation as a formal disciplinary action. McKenzie announced the “SUSPENSION OF KENNY KUNENE AS DEPUTY PRESIDENT,” stating the action was taken following “engagements” with Kunene.
The letter provides the specific details absent from Kunene’s own statements. “These [allegations] relate to a public perception that his provided reasons for being found at the home of an alleged member of a murder syndicate should be tested,” McKenzie wrote.
The party’s letter confirms that Kunene has “agreed to cooperate with an investigation” and “has agreed to step aside from his political role in the PA.” It explicitly forbids him from acting “in any official capacity in the party while on suspension.”
The timing and content of the documents suggest Mr. Kunene’s resignation was not a wholly independent decision, but rather a move made in concert with the party’s formal suspension.
This development creates significant political turbulence for the multi-party coalition governing Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub. The Patriotic Alliance has been a crucial “kingmaker” party in the coalition, and the Transport portfolio is a critical one for the sprawling metropolis.
Mr. Kunene’s departure leaves this key MMC position vacant and removes a high-profile, albeit controversial, figure from the city’s leadership. The Patriotic Alliance has stated that the investigation will be led by a “competent legal team,” but has not provided a timeline for its conclusion or announced a successor for Kunene’s now-vacant party and government roles.