Ryan Swano
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has announced that his party will withdraw from the Government of National Unity (GNU) and all coalition governments at local, provincial, and national levels. McKenzie, who has been serving as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture since July 2024, said he will resign from his ministerial post on Tuesday morning, along with all PA leaders deployed in government.
This dramatic move follows weeks of escalating tensions between the PA and the African National Congress (ANC), with McKenzie accusing the ruling party of dishonesty, humiliation, and outright disrespect towards his party and its members.
Clash Over Johannesburg Coalition Positions
The conflict began in Johannesburg when the PA was denied the opportunity to fill a crucial position in the coalition government. Initially, the PA had been allocated two key portfolios: Human Settlements, and Roads & Transport. In a gesture aimed at strengthening the coalition, the PA voluntarily gave up the Human Settlements portfolio to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), leaving them with Roads & Transport as their sole representation.
However, when former Johannesburg MMC Kenny Kunene stepped aside amid controversy, the PA nominated Liam Jacobs as his replacement. According to McKenzie, the ANC leadership in Gauteng, led by Dada Morero, refused to swear Jacobs in. “They blatantly refused to swear him in as MMC of Roads & Transport,” McKenzie said, adding that the ANC initially claimed Jacobs lacked experience.
McKenzie strongly rejected that claim, pointing out Jacobs’ qualifications and prior political experience, including having served as a Member of Parliament at a young age. “The real reason came out immediately,” McKenzie said. “Dada Morero had promised Roads & Transport to Malema’s EFF.”
WATCH:Patriotic Alliance confirms intention to withdraw from GNU
This, McKenzie argued, violated the coalition agreement. He emphasized that positions were allocated to parties, not individuals, and that the ANC had no right to dictate which candidates the PA deployed. Despite these objections, the PA was forced to withdraw Jacobs, a move McKenzie described as “a very humiliating experience.”
Even after Kunene was cleared of wrongdoing, the ANC still refused to allow him to return to the role. This deepened tensions and eroded trust between the two parties.
Water Crisis Ignites Final Break with ANC
The final breaking point came during a water crisis affecting residents in Westbury, Newclare, and Coronationville. Communities were left without water for weeks, while water trucks were seen servicing nearby informal settlements. When residents organized a peaceful protest, McKenzie said police opened fire on them.
McKenzie personally intervened to secure water trucks for the affected areas after promises by ANC leaders failed to materialize.
The PA then issued an ultimatum to the ANC: reinstate Kunene within seven days or face a complete withdrawal of PA support at all levels of government. When no action was taken, the party made good on its threat.
“You can remain to dine at a table when disrespect is on the menu,” McKenzie declared. “We opt to leave rather.”
The withdrawal will have significant implications for coalition politics across South Africa, especially in municipalities and provinces where the PA has been a key player in keeping governing coalitions stable.
