Councillor Kenny Kunene, a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport has risen to his current position after a tumultuous past. Having spent six years in prison, Cllr Kunene has since turned his life around and dedicated himself to uplifting the City of Gold. After graduating from Vista University, Cllr Kunene worked as a teacher in Klerksdorp before being arrested for a crime and doing jail time at a maximum-security prison in Bloemfontein.

Cllr Kunene and his business partner, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Gayton Mackenzie exposed corruption while in prison at a great risk to their lives. The MMC believes the country must be free of corruption and has a zero tolerance for corrupt officials.

Following his release in 2003, Cllr Kunene joined the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) and campaigned to encourage young people to avoid a life of crime. He also resumed his teaching career, this time in a private school in the Free State.

“I left after 15 months to go into business,” he says.

Later, Cllr Kunene and Mackenzie started their own business and began motivating young people in schools nationwide. They have since helped many people through initiatives such as bursaries, have assisted the Military Veterans Association, and rebuilt demolished houses for the elderly.

“Some of those beneficiaries we have never met.”

Despite his commercial success, Cllr Kunene felt that he could not do enough on his own and turned to politics to have a greater impact. He was deployed by the PA in the City of Johannesburg, the party he helped create, and appointed as the MMC for Transport, a role he relishes.

Cllr Kunene understands the significance of the transportation portfolio, which is at the heart of economic stimulation and is therefore critical to the City’s prosperity.

“If transportation infrastructure is not up to standard, it will be difficult to sustain business or stimulate the economy. It is through this department that citizens are transported to work or transport themselves. Road safety can either contribute to or threaten the lives of people,” he explains.

As the MMC for Transport, Cllr Kunene has made it his mandate to ensure the City’s road infrastructure is up to scratch, traffic lights are working, and potholes are eliminated.

To fulfil this mandate, Cllr Kunene is meeting with various coalition partners to discuss priority areas and identify practical solutions within set timeframes. He believes power lies with the government, and he is determined to use his position to positively impact the lives of ordinary Joburgers.

He is particularly excited about the Johannesburg Roads Agency’s asphalt plant, which he says will enable the department to build more roads at a lower cost, thus improving service delivery.

“I have accepted this task with the understanding that this is a key portfolio.”

Cllr Kunene is a hands-on leader who embodies the principles he expects his subordinates to follow and wants everyone in his department to pull their weight.

“I, along with the citizens of the City, have no time for laziness. I will be hands-on without overreaching. If you feel the work is too much, go find a lighter job,” he notes.

He believes in creating a culture of accountability and dedication that benefits everyone involved and would like the work-from-home principle to be revoked so that everyone is back at the office full-time.

“Those who are constantly absent or lazy will not be tolerated,” he warns.

Cllr Kunene is engaged in citywide roadshows, visiting depots and regional offices to evaluate the work being executed. He is also getting to know everyone in his department. He plans to engage with unions and expects them to prioritise service delivery over tolerating what he calls laziness or politics in the workplace.

“No one should politicise the department, and political affiliation does not matter. Skills and qualifications are essential, and those who are not skilled must be upskilled.”

Cllr Kunene is resolute, understanding the importance of his portfolio. He says he’ll work tirelessly to ensure the City’s transport infrastructure is up to world-class standards.

“The people of the City are tired; they want better roads and quality service. They want to drive nice cars and buy tyres once every two years, not regularly because of pothole damage.”

Through his leadership, Cllr Kunene is poised to make a positive impact on the City and its residents.

“The problem we have within government is that when officials mess up, their names are nowhere. The person targeted is the political accounting officer, whether it is a minister, MEC, or MMC. Decisions are made by officials, and politicians must answer. I will not answer the nonsense of people who don’t want to bring their weight to the table. People must do their work.”

Written by Thembile Gule

08/05/2023