Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie has fired back at Helen Zille after the DA’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate made a joke about the party’s deputy-president, Kenny Kunene, and his supposed lack of action towards fixing potholes.
This comes after Zille revealed her five-pledge plan to transform the city, which includes taking control of all spheres of local government, including road safety.
Pothole Alliance Joke
During her mayoral manifesto launch at Johannesburg City Hall on Saturday, 7 March, Zille criticised the city’s current leaders, including Gauteng MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene, who is also the deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance.
She told the crowd, ‘Kenny is responsible for fixing Joburg’s roads. Fixing a pothole has become such a rare event in Jozi that Kenny Kunene announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday to celebrate the occasion. He wanted to cut a ribbon to open a fixed pothole.’
Zille mocked how Kunene was reportedly forced to cancel the event after another pothole needed to be urgently filled.
Gayton McKenzie’s Response
On his X account, PA president Gayton McKenzie clapped back at Helen Zille’s mockery of Kenny Kunene, tweeting: ‘The people in the old age homes where you belong will truly and sincerely appreciate this kinda humour of Pot Hole Alliance, go regale your age mates.’
In the comments, X users were unimpressed by his choice of words, with some calling out his ageism.
McKenzie’s response has sparked a heated debate, with some arguing that his joke was unfair and others seeing it as a clever comeback.
To improve road safety, Zille’s manifesto includes the following pledges:
- Filling potholes within 72 hours
- Getting 95% of traffic lights working
- Repainting road markings
- Using modern technology to protect major intersections
- Standing up to rogue taxis
For more information on Zille’s manifesto, visit the DA website or follow her on social media.
As the election season heats up, it will be interesting to see how the parties’ pledges play out in the city.
