Kenny Kunene Resigns as Johannesburg Councillor Amidst Controversy
Kenny Kunene, a suspended deputy within the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for transport, has tendered his resignation as a councillor with immediate effect.
Kunene’s departure follows an incident on Tuesday where police found him at the sandton residence of Katiso “KT” Molefe, a suspect in a murder inquiry.Kunene stated to media outlets that he was present to facilitate an interview for journalists from his online news platform with a newsmaker.
The resignation comes shortly after PA leader Gayton McKenzie issued Kunene a suspension letter on Friday, pending an investigation into allegations against him.Molefe is reportedly implicated as the alleged mastermind behind the killings of DJ Sumbody and Armand Swart, an engineer whose company had reportedly flagged irregularities in a Transnet tender.In his letter to the City of Johannesburg speaker,Kunene expressed his regret,stating,”I regret to inform you that I have tendered my resignation as a proportional depiction councillor for the PA effective immediatly and will thus be unable to continue as a member of your mayoral committee responsible for transport.” He further elaborated,”I am stepping aside from public life for a period,while my party satisfies itself as to certain allegations that have been raised against me,which are unfounded. But I have still agreed it would be in the public interest for me to await the clearing of my name before considering a return to public service and duty.”
Earlier in the week, McKenzie voiced his support for Kunene, saying, “I believe Kenny 100%. I can’t expect everyone to believe him, hence we are launching a full investigation to prove what we no, which is that he is innocent.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has responded to kunene’s resignation by reiterating its demands for investigations into various processes, organizations, and projects that fell under his portfolio. DA caucus leader Belinda Kayer Echeozonjoku confirmed that the party had written to Mayor Dada Morero, requesting an inquiry into:
all contracts and procurement processes at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
The contractors and procurement related to the Lilian ngoyi street repairs.
* Contracts, appointments, and procurement processes at the Metropolitan Trading Company (MTC).The DA has requested a response from the mayor within seven days.
