JOHANNESBURG, Convicted criminal and leader of the Patriotic Alliance, Gayton McKenzie, has caused controversy with a recent tweet outlining his priorities if he were to become mayor of Johannesburg. McKenzie tweeted that he would focus on “cable mafias and illegal foreigners,” and that his office would be moved to the suburb of Hillbrow.
The tweet received a mixed response, with some users supporting McKenzie’s stance on illegal immigration, while others pointed out that a mayor does not have the constitutional power to deal with immigration and foreign affairs. Unathi Khalanga Ndebele, a Twitter user, replied to McKenzie’s tweet stating that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Department of Home Affairs are the departments with the lawful competencies to deal with immigration and foreign affairs.
However, McKenzie’s tweet has also sparked debate over the real issues facing Johannesburg residents. Some users argued that the top concerns among the city’s over 5 million residents are loadshedding, jobs, infrastructure, education, and healthcare, rather than illegal immigration.
Despite the mixed response, McKenzie appears to have a lot of support among South Africans on Twitter and in the comments section. However, it remains to be seen whether his stance on illegal immigration will resonate with voters in the upcoming mayoral elections.
It is important to note that McKenzie has a criminal record and was previously convicted of fraud and sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, he has since turned his life around and become a successful businessman and political figure.
