McKenzie: PA would reinstate death penalty, bring God into schools - IOL

Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie has promised to reinstate the death penalty, introduce morning prayers in schools and compel children to undergo military service if the party comes to power.

Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says the party would reinstate the death penalty, introduce morning prayers in schools and send children to the army “by fire or by force” if it comes to power.

McKenzie was recently speaking at the PA’s Buffalo City mayoral campaign launch in Buffalo Flats, outside KuGompo City.

“We are the future. PA is the fastest-growing political party,” McKenzie said.

“You see, all our problems in South Africa stem from one thing. We’ve taken God out of our schools. Once we can bring God back into schools, under the PA regime, we will bring back the death penalty. We will bring back God into schools.”

He said children would be taught scripture before other subjects.

“The PA government will make sure that children are going to the army by fire or by force. We have no time to play,” he said.

McKenzie also urged voters to examine the party’s manifesto.

“Now, in the municipality, we are going to make sure next week, make sure your editor sends you to our manifesto, and then you will hear what we’ve got to say,” he said.

McKenzie said Buffalo City residents had given the ANC an opportunity to govern but remained poor.

“My message to the people of Buffalo City is that you’ve given the ANC a chance, you are still poor. You’ve given the PA a chance, you are still poor,” he said.

“Give us a chance so we can show you we are also victims like yourself. We are here to bring change to the people of Buffalo City. We are excellent people.”

He said the party would focus on job creation and tackling crime.

“Our mayoral candidate has taken me around, and it’s absolute poverty. It breaks my heart,” McKenzie said.

“The people here, what hurts me the most is to see so many young people in the corners. There are no jobs for them. We’re going to create jobs. We’re going to change their lives. We are going to fight crime.”

PA mayoral candidate for Buffalo City Graham Lotteri said voters needed to change their voting patterns.

“Things have got to change. I mean, when we go to the ballot box now, this is not going to be a normal vote, as I said earlier on. This is going to be an eviction order that we’re going to serve to these two parties at the end of the day,” Lotteri said.

He was referring to the ANC and the Democratic Alliance.

“Our people, we are going to serve them with eviction orders. It’s not a normal vote,” he said.

“Our people’s pattern of voting has to change now to change our lives,” Lotteri added.

Buffalo City Municipality continues to face serious service delivery challenges, including water and sanitation shortages, poor waste management, failing sanitation infrastructure, financial mismanagement and corruption probes.

Incumbent mayor Princess Faku has held the position since March 2023. She entered local government leadership after working at the National Youth Development Agency and serving in Parliament.

Faku became mayor after the ANC recalled her predecessor, Xola Pakati, amid concerns over the city’s audit outcomes, expenditure and revenue collection.

The ANC remains relatively dominant in the metro.

Several parties have announced or are considering candidates for the Buffalo City mayoral race.

The ANC’s potential candidates include incumbent mayor Faku, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nocawe Mafu, Simphiwe Dzengwa and Ncedo Kumbaca.

The United Democratic Movement’s deputy president, Ngabayomzi Kwankwa, is its Buffalo City mayoral candidate.

The EFF has selected parliamentarian Mkhululi Dlevu, while the MK Party has named Mzwandile Vaaibom.

The DA has indicated that it will not field a mayoral candidate for Buffalo City.