Johannesburg – Suspended Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president and City of Johannesburg MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene, has resigned as a councillor with immediate effect following mounting controversy.
Kunene’s resignation comes days after he was found by police at the Sandton home of Katiso “KT” Molefe, a murder-accused alleged to have orchestrated the killings of popular musician DJ Sumbody and Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.
Kunene claimed he was at the property facilitating an interview for his online news platform when police arrived to arrest Molefe.
On Friday, PA leader Gayton McKenzie suspended Kunene pending an internal investigation into allegations against him.
Despite vowing his innocence, Kunene said he would step aside from public office until his name is cleared.
“I regret to inform you that I have tendered my resignation as a proportional representation councillor for the PA effective immediately and will thus be unable to continue as a member of your mayoral committee responsible for transport,” Kunene wrote to the City of Johannesburg Speaker.
“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.”
McKenzie reiterated 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 know, which is that he is innocent.”
The DA welcomed Kunene’s resignation and renewed calls for a probe into the transport portfolio during his tenure. DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the party has written to Mayor Dada Morero, demanding investigations into:All contracts and procurement processes at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA);Contractors and procurement of the Lilian Ngoyi Street repairs;Contracts, appointments, and procurement processes at the Metropolitan Trading Company (MTC).
Kunene’s resignation marks yet another high-profile shake-up in Johannesburg’s turbulent municipal politics as questions linger over governance and accountability.