The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has issued an ultimatum to the African National Congress (ANC), threatening to withdraw from all coalition agreements if its deputy president, Kenny Kunene, is not reinstated as Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport in City of Johannesburg within seven days.
Kunene resigned from the position in July after he was suspended over alleged links to businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe. He also stepped down as a councillor while an internal investigation was conducted. The PA has since cleared him of any wrongdoing, declaring him ready to return to office.
On Monday night, PA leader Gayton McKenzie announced on Facebook that the party would not tolerate further delays in Kunene’s reinstatement.
“Within seven days, if Kunene is not back in his position, every PA member in JB Marks [Municipality], every PA coalition with the ANC, you withdraw with immediate effect. Stay one day, one hour after instructions has gone out that you must withdraw from every coalition we have with the ANC,” McKenzie warned.
He directed sharp criticism at Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, whom he accused of standing in the way of Kunene’s return. “We are not going to be told by Dada. Who does Dada think he is?” McKenzie said.
The ultimatum places the ANC under pressure, as it governs several key municipalities through fragile coalitions with the PA. A withdrawal by the PA could destabilise ANC-led administrations in Johannesburg and elsewhere, amplifying the volatility of coalition politics across South Africa.