'Mr Sushi' not fit to be mayor of Johannesburg

The City of Johannesburg is a big and complex institution, an economic hub and the strategic municipality in the country.

Therefore, the city council needs a strategic political leadership that will take it forward - and deliver the much-needed service to the residents.

That said, the election of the executive mayor is not based on merit but the political party that the candidate belongs to, and the clique the candidate belongs to within the political party. This is partly why local governments in South Africa are in a poor state.

The Patriotic Alliance has put the name of Kenny Kunene as its Johannesburg mayoral candidate for next year's local government elections.

Is Kunene fit for purpose? Can the residents of Johannesburg put their trust and future in his hands? There are no easy answers. What is Kunene's claim to fame? What has he done and accomplished?

The nation was introduced to him as a convicted criminal and later a successful business person, who partied and ate sushi from the bodies of topless women. How did he make his money? I really don't know. Kunene and Gayton McKenzie met in jail and became bosom friends.

According to McKenzie, Kunene saved his life in jail. That's what made them close buddies. After their release in jail, they became business partners, and later started a political party together and named it Patriotic Alliance.

Mr Sushi, as Kunene is known, is the former MEC for Transport in the City of Johannesburg. He recently resigned as MEC and councillor, after it emerged that he has a relationship with the underworld. The PA also suspended him as its deputy president.

Now McKenzie's party has put him as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg. Is the PA deputy president fit to be the mayor of Jozi?

Kunene is a noisemaker and populist who plays to the gallery. He also lacks strategic thinking and does not command respect. In my book, he does not fit the bill to be the mayor of Johannesburg.

Thabile Mange 

Kagiso