The PA says its meeting with the ANC’s leadership on Tuesday night was “constructive and productive”, thus it was withdrawing its threat to walk away from the government of national unity (GNU) over Kenny Kunene’s removal as a mayoral committee member (MMC) in Johannesburg.
Business Day reported earlier this week that Kunene, the PA’s deputy president, was sworn in as a councillor in the Johannesburg council on Friday and that he was likely to return to the post he formerly held as MMC of transport after he was cleared in an investigation initiated by the party into allegations of his ties to murder accused Katiso Molefe.
Kunene was at Molefe’s home as the latter was arrested for the murder of music producer Oupa Sefoka. An investigation initiated by the PA and conducted by law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr cleared Kunene of wrongdoing, though it did not interview Molefe in the probe.
While it is likely that Kunene will be returned to the Johannesburg executive committee under mayor Dada Morero soon, the PA deputy president said the party used the meeting to push for a broader package deal with the ANC in Gauteng.
“We have suspended any threat of the PA walking away from the GNU because of the spirit of the meeting; it was very mature and we explained the backlash we were getting from our members. But we did not conclude anything,” Kunene said.
He said the ANC and PA would try to find common ground in the upcoming days.
“Ekurhuleni, West Rand and Tshwane metro are now also on the table. We want to package everything,” Kunene added.
The PA is expected to consult with its structures in the coming days, before finalising discussions in a follow-up meeting with the ANC.
The ANC in Johannesburg did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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