Now DA demands investigation into Kenny Kunene's contracts following his resignation

The Democratic Alliance DA has called for an urgent investigation into contracts awarded by Kenny Kunene.

His resignation as a Proportional Representation (PR) councillor and MMC for Transport in the City of Johannesburg comes amid mounting public and political pressure, following revelations of his alleged association with a suspected member of a murder syndicate, a link now under internal investigation by the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

In his resignation letter, Kunene stated that: “I regret to inform you that I have tendered my resignation as a Proportional Representation Councillor for the Patriotic Alliance, effective immediately, and will thus be unable to continue as a member of your mayoral committee, responsible for transport.”

He went on to say, “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 nevertheless 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.

“I believe I have always committed myself to serve the residents of Johannesburg with vigour, authenticity, and vision. During my two years as an MMC, I worked to be a force for good, championing accessible transport, confronting inefficiencies, and challenging the systemic rot of our communities.”

Shortly after Kunene’s resignation, the DA gave Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero 7 days to launch a full probe into all JRA contracts, the Lilian Ngoyi Street repairs, and procurement processes at the Metropolitan Trading Company (MTC).

DA Councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said that Kunene had direct political oversight of these processes, organisations, and projects.

She added that if Mayor Morero fails to respond within 7 days, the DA will escalate the matter using all available avenues to expose alleged irregularities at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and the Metropolitan Trading Company (MTC).

“Should the Executive Mayor fail to respond to the DA within 7 days, the DA will use all avenues at our disposal, including approaching law enforcement with the information available to us, to hold the Executive Mayor as Shareholder representative himself, responsible for the alleged irregularities at JRA and MTC.”

Morero explained that Kunene’s resignation as a councillor meant the council no longer had the authority to pursue disciplinary action against him.

Political analyst Sandile Swana believes the Patriotic Alliance attempted to shield itself from scrutiny by launching an internal investigation that falls outside legal processes. He said the move was likely aimed at downplaying Kenny Kunene’s alleged misconduct.

“They would have hired a law firm to do a whitewash of Kenny Nkunene's deeds,” Swana said. 

“An inquiry led by the Speaker or Mayor Dada Morero would have uncovered far more, including possible links between Kunene and the criminal underworld — something that would have seriously damaged both him and Gayton McKenzie, as well as the party as a whole.”

When asked whether Kenny Kunene’s decision to resign during the investigation was a strategic move or the result of public and political pressure, Swana pointed to the constrained political environment facing city officials.

“There was clear political pressure on Dada Morero and the Speaker of the Council,” he said. “There wasn’t really any room to engineer a whitewash. Maybe if they were all ANC back in the day, when the party dominated everything, they could have pulled it off, but not now.”

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za