Patriotic Alliance names Kunene Joburg mayoral hopeful, shifts Liam Jacobs to Cape Town

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has announced its deputy president, Kenny Kunene, as the party’s mayoral candidate for Joburg, while Liam Jacobs has been named as its new mayoral candidate for Cape Town – just a month after being sworn in as a councillor in Joburg.

Kunene’s appointment comes despite an ongoing internal investigation into his alleged ties with suspected underworld figure Katiso “KT” Molefe.

PA leader Gayton McKenzie announced a Facebook Live video on Monday night.

“Then, the issue of Gauteng – we are not winning so far. The investigation of the DP (deputy president) will probably be done. Eugene will tell us tomorrow when the investigation will be done. He has done good work,” McKenzie said.

“He has done very good work in the City of Joburg, and the DP will be our mayoral candidate for Joburg. We insist on that. As he was a councillor, we will discuss that position with him. But the DP – we want this case to finish,” he added.

Kunene was suspended for 30 days in July after he was found at the home of Molefe, who is accused of masterminding the 2022 assassination of popular musician and club owner Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka.

While the suspension period has since lapsed, the party had remained silent on the progress of the probe. 

In a separate Facebook live broadcast on Sunday evening, McKenzie confirmed that Kunene and several other individuals had been interviewed by the law firm tasked with conducting the investigation.

“The investigators have interviewed the DP, his witnesses, the journalist he said was there, and I think they interviewed other people. So that investigation is nearly done – we are just waiting for the results,” he said.

McKenzie confirmed that the final report, once complete, would be made public. 

The PA appointed law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr to lead the inquiry into Kunene’s conduct.

In addition to being suspended, Kunene resigned from his roles as councillor and Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport in Johannesburg following mounting public scrutiny.

Kunene has maintained that his visit to Molefe’s residence was for journalistic purposes, claiming that a young journalist from his online publication, Africa News Global, was conducting an investigation when police arrived.

Molefe remains in custody following his high-profile arrest. 

He was denied bail by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court last month. Magistrate Renier Boshoff ruled that Molefe had failed to present exceptional circumstances to justify his release. 

He is due back in court on Thursday, September 18.

Molefe is alleged to have orchestrated the murder of DJ Sumbody, who was killed in a hail of bullets in 2022. The late musician owned Ayepyep Lifestyle Lounge in Pretoria. 

Meanwhile, the PA has reshuffled its leadership and candidate list, naming 24-year-old Liam Jacobs as its new Cape Town mayoral candidate. 

Jacobs will resign as Johannesburg councillor, a position he took up just one month ago.

“So here are the changes we are making,” McKenzie said in the Facebook Live video. 

“Liam Jacobs will resign from being a councillor tomorrow. He will occupy two new positions. Firstly, this is the Youth League (and as Cape Town mayoral candidate).”

McKenzie confirmed Jacobs is now president of the PA Youth League.

As a result, Jacobs will no longer be the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Tshwane.

“We are removing Liam Jacobs from council because I think they are intimidated, and they want him to be an honorary councillor – we know there are some DA guys that are intimidated by him. We are not going to let such talent sit there while we can use it elsewhere,” McKenzie added.

Reports have indicated that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were opposed to Jacobs taking up the position over his lack of local government experience. 

IOL News reached out to the EFF, but it has declined to comment on the matter.

Jacobs had previously been set to take over the MMC for the Transport portfolio in Johannesburg, following Kunene’s resignation. 

Concerns over Jacobs’ experience reportedly caused friction within the ANC-led coalition governing the metro.

IOL News previously reported that Joburg mayor Dada Morero has denied reports suggesting he was uncomfortable with Jacobs’ proposed appointment. 

Jacobs joined the PA in June following a brief stint with the Democratic Alliance (DA).

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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