Crime to cabinet: Gayton McKenzie’s qualifications revealed

Gayton McKenzie has been appointed the new Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture. The Patriotic Alliance leader will replace Zizi Kodwa, who has been accused of corruption.

FROM CRIME TO CABINET: MEET THE NEW MINISTER OF SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE

Gayton McKenzie has been vocal and transparent about his criminal past. 

The Patriotic Alliance leader is a former convict who served time for armed robbery. He was also a notorious “Americans” gangster and leader of a prison’s “26” gang.

After robbing banks, petrol stations, and casinos, Gayton was eventually sentenced to 17 years behind bars.

Speaking to Power FM in 2017, Gayton McKenzie claims he decided to commit crime as a young boy.

He told host Iman Rapetti: “I already knew that I would be a criminal at the age of 8; that was my choice, and that’s how I got involved.

gayton mckenzie, patriotic alliance, business
Gayton McKenzie emerged from a life of crime to a minister in cabinet.
Images via Facebook: McKenzie.Gayton

He continued: “I robbed my first bank just before I turned 16. Then I was a fully-fledged gangster. I was one of the most wanted guys. I spent my whole youth in jail after being sentenced to 17 years”.

In jail, Gayton decided to turn his life around after he witnessed the brutal rape of an underage prisoner. The account eventually led him to become one of the “Grootvlei Four” who exposed widespread corruption at the Bloemfontein prison.

During this time, he also met Kenny Kunene, who is now the Deputy President of the Patriotic Alliance.

HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, LITERALLY

Following the announcement that he had been appointed as Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie wasted no time in responding to his critics.

He tweeted alongside a picture of himself putting on a pair of soccer boots:  “Thank you for all the well-wishing messages. I will reply shortly. I’m just busy getting ready; I have work to do.”

Gayton also took the time to congratulate SA singers Tyla and Makhadzi, who both won several awards at the BET Awards on Sunday evening.

He tweeted: “We want to assure South Africans that we will not be a Ministry that is content with congratulating artists and creatives only but will go out and unearth more Tylas and Makhadzis. Help us find more future superstars.”

GAYTON MCKENZIE: WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DOES HE HAVE?

Like his life of crime, Gayton McKenzie has also revealed that he does not have a post-matric qualification.

In 2022, he tweeted: “I have no problem being asked for my ID or where I am from. I was born in Pelenomi Hospital, and attended Olympia Primary School and Heatherdale Secondary School, all in Bloemfontein.”

He jokingly added: “I obtained a PHD ( Passed High School with Difficulty)”.

Gayton does, however, have multiple business interests and investments in various fields, including nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and events venues, logistics and transport, imports, energy, mining, and farming.

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