Gayton McKenzie – Ex-gangster turned South African Minister of Sports and Arts

Gayton McKenzie is a former gangster and bank robber turned nightclub owner and opposition politician who has now risen to become South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.

President Cyril Rampahosa appointed McKenzie, leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), as a minister in a multiparty government he announced on Sunday after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in parliament in the May 29 general election.

The 50-year-old, who is a frequent Twitter user, celebrated his appointment by posting a picture of himself in football cleats and humorously commenting: “Thank you so much for all the congratulatory messages. I’ll reply soon. But I’m busy preparing and have work to do 🥅⚽️.”

For Mackenzie’s admirers, his appointment is the latest testament to how he overcame adversity to succeed: He robbed his first bank before he was 16 and then, as he told a local radio station, became a full-fledged gangster, spent seven years in prison and vowed to reform after his release.

The nightclub has since closed, as has a branch in Cape Town registered in Mr McKenzie’s name, following a lawsuit over unpaid rent and electricity bills, according to the IOL news site.

McKenzie is now well known as a politician, having established the Palestinian Authority in 2013 with Kunene as his deputy.

More than a decade later, the party has performed well, winning 2% of the national vote and 8% in Western Cape provincial elections.

Its supporters came mainly from Coloureds, known in South Africa as people of mixed race.

The PA’s signature slogan is “Ons baiza nie,” which roughly translates to “We are not afraid” in Afrikaans, a language widely spoken in South Africa’s Coloured community, which makes up about 8% of the country’s population.

“Through the Patriotic Union we will have people of colour in Parliament for the first time. We are the only party that has people of all races in Parliament,” McKenzie said after the results were announced.

Political analyst Kagiso Poo told the BBC that Mr McKenzie has a “brave” style which has won him support in his constituency.

“People want to believe and see people who come from a similar background to them and are unashamed to say, ‘This is who I am’. We see that in President Zuma, President Trump and other such figures,” he said.

Analysts added that McKenzie’s anti-illegal immigration campaign helped him win votes.

“Unfortunately, mainstream politicians and parties are avoiding this issue and he is addressing it directly.”

McKenzie’s critics have accused him of running a xenophobic campaign, running under the slogan “Abahambe” (Zulu for “They must go”) and visiting the Zimbabwean border as part of a publicity stunt to turn away people trying to enter South Africa.

He was also accused of being a hypocrite when, in a 2013 interview with the SABC, he described immigrants from other parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe, as an “integral” part of the South African economy, with critics pointing out that “our problem – the problem I’m talking about here as black people – is that we’re lazy.”

As President Ramaphosa began negotiations to form a coalition government, McKenzie made it clear he wanted the deputy president to take over as head of the Home Affairs department, which is responsible for immigration issues.

He applied to join the police department, arguing that his former gangster experience made him well placed to tackle South Africa’s high crime rate.

He was unfazed when he did not get the post, saying he had in fact requested a post in the Ministry of Sports in “informal” negotiations with the ANC.

“Sports can be used to change kids’ lives. Kids who play sports are the same kids who don’t play on the court,” he said.

“I have one promise. [of cars] It’s one of the biggest sports in the country,” he added in a Facebook Live post.

Car spinning is a recognised motorsport in South Africa that involves driving a vehicle in a circle with the driver getting out of the car to perform stunts.

But many events are unregulated and, as IOL sports reporter John Goliath wrote, there is still a stigma attached to the event because Coloureds, Indians and many people from townships often spin in the streets, where it is considered dangerous.

“Tyre spinning began in townships as a ritual to commemorate martyred gangsters during the apartheid era,” he said.

McKenzie promised to allow car spinning to take place in a safe environment and help steer young people away from gangs and drugs.

“Spinners will get recognition,” he said, adding: “When a boy gets interested in cars, he doesn’t have time for drugs. All he has to worry about is his car.”

But Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint McKenzie to cabinet carries political risks because he is at the centre of an investigation ordered by the Western Cape government, which is controlled by the Democratic Alliance (DA), a fierce rival of the Palestinian Authority.

Mr McKenzie was mayor of the Central Karoo until last year and was accused of failing to account for 3 million rand ($161,000, £127,000) that was raised at a lavish gala dinner in 2022 to improve public services such as repairing swimming pools and replacing bucket toilets.

A court last month ordered him to hand over certain financial records to investigators, just weeks before he was to be promoted to cabinet, local media reported.

The district attorney kept up the pressure last week by picketing Beaufort West, a small town part of the Central Karoo, demanding an explanation for the funding.

“The truth will come out. I have nothing to hide,” he said, adding that “lies die fast.”