‘He would never get involved with murders,' says Gayton McKenzie after suspending Kenny Kunene

Daily Maverick

23-07-2025

Now placed on a month's leave over alleged ties to an accused criminal mastermind, Kenny Kunene has spoken out about the 'dramatic' arrest, but questions remain about the purpose of the meeting and the identity of the unnamed 'young journalist' he was accompanying.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says the decision to place his second in command, Kenny Kunene, on a month's suspension amid an internal investigation over links to an alleged criminal mastermind is the hardest decision he has made in his life.
McKenzie announced the decision during a Facebook Live session on Tuesday evening, 22 July, hours after police found the Johannesburg mayoral committee member (MMC) for transport at the Sandton house of murder accused Katiso 'KT' Molefe.
Molefe was arrested in connection with the killing of Oupa Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody, in a 2022 drive-by shooting in Woodmead, Johannesburg. He died alongside his bodyguard after the vehicle they were travelling in was peppered with bullets.
He is also accused of the killing of Armand Swart, a Vereeniging engineer who was murdered after his company reportedly raised concerns about price gouging in a Transnet tender, according to police.
'Kenny Kunene will be investigated, and I am going to tell you who is going to investigate him – lawyers of good character. And while he's being investigated, I'm going to remove him from being an MMC,' McKenzie said.
'I'm also going to tell him to stand back from politics for one month until the investigation is done. That's the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.
McKenzie took the decision to launch an investigation despite saying 'I believe Kenny 100%', raising concerns about the credibility of the process. He said would make the investigation's findings public.
In a social media post, McKenzie wrote: 'I can't expect everyone to believe him, hence we are launching a full investigation to prove what we know, which is that he is innocent.'
Kunene was appointed MMC in the City of Gold in February 2023 and has also acted as the city's mayor, filling in for both former mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and current mayor Dada Morero.
Despite his short tenure, he positioned himself as a proactive leader by conducting site visits to depots, roadworks and bus infrastructure hubs, and leading raids on hijacked buildings and illegal connections, often a thorny issue.
His past includes a criminal conviction. In 1997, he was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud after being found guilty of running a Ponzi scheme. At the time, he worked as an English teacher but became involved in criminal activity while selling alcohol after hours.
'Dramatic' arrest
Speaking to SABC News about the visit to Molefe's home, it would appear that he went in his capacity as the owner of online publication African News Global.
Kunene told the broadcaster he was in the company of an unmanned person who had arranged the meeting with Molefe who claimed he had never met or interacted with him before. They were with an unnamed journalist who was set to conduct an exclusive interview with Molefe.
'We are not friends. I think if you look at my online newspaper, it hasn't been that active and I decided to put together some young people that can run with it, that are interested in the media space, to resuscitate it, obviously, and its own tradition. It has always focused on exclusive stories…'
Molefe's arrest took place within seconds of the trio arriving on the premises. They were in the driveway and were yet to enter the house.
Kunene described the scene as 'dramatic' as police kicked the gate, having showed up with rifles and V-Class vehicles. Upon establishing that Molefe was the owner of the house, he was handcuffed while Kunene was being interrogated about their relationship.
'The police asked me if I had a number for Mr Molefe and I told them I don't, they can take my phone and search it. They asked how I got here, and I said the person I came with had sent me the address, and I showed it to them on my phone,' Kunene said.
McKenzie has stood by Kunene, who he said was not just a friend of his but a brother, and godfather of his children who would never associate with murderers.
'I know Kenny Kunene. People think he's my friend but he's not. He was my friend, but he went past that and became a brother I never had. He's the one person who made me change my life in jail. He's the godfather of my children. I'm the godfather of his children.
'He would never get involved with murders. That's not him. He's a good man. He would never hurt a fly; he's not a violent person. I know he's innocent,' he said on Facebook Live.
Opposition calls for action
The DA in Johannesburg has since called on Morero to remove Kunene from his post as MMC permanently, saying a paid month-long day holiday was not enough.
'Hanging out with suspected murderers and bringing the entire executive into disrepute is punishable, and Morero must act,' said Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku.
Kayser-Echeozonjoku also raised questions about McKenzie's investigation. 'Unfortunately for McKenzie, we do not have faith in his so-called internal investigation. Especially not as he has already made his belief in Kunene's innocence so clear.'
ActionSA echoed similar sentiments, adding that public representatives ought to uphold the highest standards of integrity both in their official capacity and in private conduct.
'When such standards are brought into question, the legitimacy and credibility of the broader administration are inevitably placed at risk,' said Lebo Mokoka, the party's regional secretary.
On the decision to place Kunene on a 30-day leave of absence from party activities and to relieve him of his duties on the mayoral committee, the party said: 'This is a necessary step. However, any conduct that undermines public confidence in the City's leadership must be confronted with full transparency and accountability.' DM