Leaked Dossier Questions Gayton McKenzie PA Links to Johannesburg and National Board Seats
- A leaked dossier named several Patriotic Alliance figures allegedly holding overlapping seats on Johannesburg municipal boards and national culture bodies
- PA legal head Eugene Botha, who resigned from the National Arts Council, is among those named alongside deputy president Kenny Kunene and four other party figures
- McKenzie previously dissolved two national arts councils, with one suspension already granted by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
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SOUTH AFRICA — A leaked document has drawn attention to associates of Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and his Patriotic Alliance (PA), questioning their dual presence on Johannesburg city boards and national cultural entities.
The report lists multiple party-aligned figures who simultaneously or consecutively occupied seats on municipal agencies as well as bodies overseen by McKenzie's ministerial portfolio, sparking debate around the selection process.
According to IOL, one prominent figure mentioned is Eugene Botha, the PA's legal chief and former chair of the National Arts Council (NAC). Botha vacated his NAC post along with four fellow council members after disputes regarding internal governance. He affirmed that his appointment followed open public recruitment, complete with a formal disclosure of interests, and rejected any suggestion of impropriety.
McKenzie's skeletons in the closet?
McKenzie disbanded the NAC board in May, though the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria stayed that action in July. In September, he moved to dissolve the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) board. Addressing previous queries on board selections, McKenzie stated that no legislation was breached, maintaining that knowing an appointee does not constitute a conflict of interest.
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PA figures named across multiple boards The document further singles out PA deputy leader Kenny Kunene, Simon Carl Clarke, Bakang Lethoko, Wilma Botha, and Shaudah Chetty. Their reported appointments include roles on municipal structures such as the Johannesburg Roads Agency, Metrobus, and the Metropolitan Trading Company, alongside national heritage bodies and sports councils.
Kunene dismissed the allegations, labelling the leaked document an orchestrated smear tactic intended to discredit his organisation prior to upcoming Local Government Elections which will be held on 4 November 2026.
Gayton McKenzie-linked consortium purchases Ticketpro
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the women-owned consortium that acquired Ticketpro, its shareholders’ links to the Patriotic Alliance, and the appointment of Gayton McKenzie’s former chief of staff as CEO.
Ticketpro is the incumbent ticketing vendor for Cricket South Africa, placing it in a strong position ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup. Although a ticketing deal has not been formally announced, the tournament could generate more than R100 million for CSA.
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Source: Briefly News
