LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Kenny Kunene tells Joburg, ‘God gives light during the day; I will at night’

On Saturday, Kenny Kunene, the Patriotic Alliance's deputy president and Johannesburg Transport MMC, launched his campaign for the role of Johannesburg mayor. In his speech, Kunene promised to address various pressing issues, including hijacked buildings, informal settlements, and debt relief for residents struggling with municipal payments.

He claimed to have a strong track record in government, highlighting his efforts to improve roads, fix potholes, and stabilize his department. Kunene assured supporters that he would ensure the city's streetlights functioned at night, just as he believes God provides light during the day. The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has seen a rise in influence within Johannesburg, winning eight of the city's 270 council seats in the 2021 elections and growing to hold 11 seats after several by-election victories.

Kunene's primary focus during his campaign is to reclaim hijacked buildings and tackle illegal connections to water and electricity services, which he attributes to the city's ongoing financial woes. He pledged to implement debt relief for homeowners with properties valued at under R1 million if elected. The PA leader also addressed immigration, claiming that those opposed to deporting illegal migrants are motivated by privilege, as they do not face the same housing or school competition as those who rely on public services.

PA leader Gayton McKenzie endorsed Kunene as the best candidate for the job, criticizing the opposition's stance on illegal migration and labeling Helen Zille, the DA's mayoral candidate, as the worst choice for Johannesburg's mayor.