Gayton McKenzie – from ex-gangster to South Africa’s sports activities and humanities minister

A former gangster and financial institution robber who became a nightclub proprietor and opposition politician, Gayton McKenzie has now risen to turn into South Africa’s minister of sports activities, arts and tradition.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mr McKenzie – the chief of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) – to the portfolio within the multi-party authorities that he introduced on Sunday after his African Nationwide Congress (ANC) misplaced its parliamentary majority within the 29 Might election.

A prolific tweeter, the 50-year-old relished his appointment, posting a photograph of himself placing on soccer boots and, with a contact of humour, typed: “Thanks for all of the properly wishing messages, I’ll reply shortly I’m simply busy preparing, I’ve work to do 🥅 ⚽️.”

At his swearing in ceremony three days later, Mr McKenzie had his viewers, together with Mr Ramaphosa, laughing when, in response to the chief justice asking him to be seated, he quipped: “The final time a decide requested me to sit down, he made me sit for 10 years.”

For Mr McKenzie’s admirers, his appointment is the newest signal of how he overcame adversity to attain success. He robbed his first financial institution earlier than he turned 16, then turned, as he put in an interview with a neighborhood radio station, a totally fledged gangster, spent seven years in jail, and vowed to vary after his early launch.

The nightclub subsequently shut, as did a department in Cape City registered in Mr McKenzie’s identify following authorized motion over alleged unpaid hire and electrical energy, in keeping with the IOL information web site.

Nowadays, he’s higher often known as a politician, having launched the PA in 2013, with Mr Kunene as his deputy.

Greater than a decade later, the occasion gained 2% of the nationwide vote and fared higher in elections for the provincial authorities within the Western Cape, getting 8%.

Its assist got here primarily from the colored group, as individuals of combined race are recognized in South Africa.

The PA’s signature slogan is “Ons baiza nie”, an Afrikaans phrase which loosely interprets as “We’re not scared”. Afrikaans is extensively spoken within the colored group, which makes up round 8% of South Africa’s inhabitants.

“For the primary time there’s colored individuals additionally going to parliament by the Patriotic Alliance. We’re the one occasion that takes all races to parliament,” Mr McKenzie stated, after the outcomes have been introduced.

Political analyst Kagiso Pooe advised the BBC that Mr McKenzie had a “bravado” fashion, which appeals to his constituency.

“Individuals need to consider and see somebody that comes from their kind of background and isn’t shy to say: ‘That is who I’m.’ You see it with individuals like President Zuma, President Trump and different such personalities,” he stated.

Mr McKenzie’s marketing campaign in opposition to undocumented migrants was a vote-winner for him, the analyst added.

“Sadly, mainstream politicians and events have shied away from this and he tackles it instantly.”

Critics denounced his marketing campaign as xenophobic. He waged it underneath the slogan “Abahambe”, which he has translated from the Zulu as “Allow them to go” – and, in a publicity stunt, he visited the border with Zimbabwe to push back individuals attempting to enter South Africa.

He was additionally accused of hypocrisy, as his critics identified that within the 2013 SABC interview he described immigrants from different components of Africa, together with Zimbabwe, as an “integral” a part of South Africa’s financial system, whereas “the issue with us is – black individuals I am speaking about right here – we’re lazy”.

As Mr Ramaphosa started negotiations over the formation of a coalition authorities, Mr McKenzie publicly stated that he wished his deputy to run the house affairs ministry, which is answerable for immigration.

He sought the police ministry for himself as he stated his earlier life as a gangster meant he was in a very good place to sort out South Africa’s excessive crime fee.

He was unperturbed when he didn’t get the publish, saying he had in actual fact requested for the sports activities ministry in “off-the-record” negotiations with the ANC.

“Sport can be utilized to vary kids’s lives. A baby in sport is a baby out of court docket,” he stated.

“There’s one promise I’ve made: I’ll make spinning [of cars] one of many largest sports activities on this nation,” he added in a stay Fb publish.

Automotive spinning is a recognised motorsport in South Africa – it entails autos being pushed in circles and a driver climbing out to carry out stunts.

However there are a lot of unregulated occasions and as IOL sports activities journalist John Goliath wrote, stigma nonetheless surrounds it as lots of people within the colored, Indian and black townships typically do spinning within the streets, which is seen as harmful.

“The spinning of tyres began within the townships as a ritual to honour fallen gangsters throughout the apartheid period,” he stated.

Mr McKenzie has promised to make it potential for automobile spinning to happen in a protected setting, and to assist hold younger individuals away from gangsterism and medicines.

“The spinners will likely be recognised,” he stated, including: “When a boy has an curiosity in vehicles, he doesn’t have time for medication. He simply worries about his automobile.”

However Mr Ramaphosa’s resolution to provide Mr McKenzie a seat in his cupboard is politically dangerous, as he’s on the centre of an investigation ordered by the Western Cape authorities. It’s managed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), a fierce political rival of the PA, though they’re now companions in Mr Ramaphosa’s authorities.

Till final 12 months, Mr McKenzie was the mayor of Central Karoo, and was accused of failing to account for 3m rand ($161,000, £127,000) raised at a glitzy gala dinner in 2022 to enhance public providers, together with repairing swimming swimming pools and changing bucket bathrooms.

In accordance with native media, a court docket ordered him final month – simply weeks earlier than his promotion to the cupboard – to declare sure monetary information to investigators.

The DA stored up the stress by picketing final week within the small city of Beaufort West, which is a part of Central Karoo, to demand solutions in regards to the cash.

“The reality shall come out. I’ve nothing to cover,” he stated, including: “Lies have quick legs.”