Kenny Kunene

Kenny Kunene (wey dem born 21 October 1970) be South African businessman, politician, motivational speaker, teacher, activist plus convicted criminal. Right now, he dey serve as Deputy President for Patriotic Alliance. From 2013 to 2014, he serve as Secretary-General for dat same party. As he dey work as high school English teacher, Kunene open shebeen wey dey sell alcohol after work, den he start dey do criminal tins like robberies plus fraud. Insyd 1997, court convict am say he dey run Ponzi scheme, den he serve six years for prison.

Afta he come out from prison, Kunene turn motivational speaker den he begin dey active for local politics. Later, he open club wey he name ZAR, den he come become popular sake of de big-big parties wey he dey throw. For 2011, he cause kasala as he host “sushi parties” wey people chop sushi from half-naked women demma body. For February 2019, Kunene release Yookoo Rides, mobile app wey dem fit use book vehicle-for-hire service.

 Early life 
Kenny Kunene na ein mommie plus ein grandparents raise am. Ein mommie be Evangelist den faith healer. As he dey grow near Odendaalsrus, na ein grandmother wey be midwife take care of de family as de only person wey dey bring money. For 1980s, Kunene enter student politics, den as he be 15 years old, dem jail am for 6 months sake of how he take join student uprising plus protest for Free State.

 Career 
Kunene go Marobe Primary School, Rearabetswe Secondary School den Vista University. Later, he come be English plus History teacher. Dem jail am from 1997 go 2003 sake of how dem convict am say he run Ponzi scheme. As he dey insyd prison, he dey organise party wey make other prisoners like am den he get influence for de prison. Afta dem release am, he start work for Calculus Private School for Bloemfontein den later join hands plus Gayton McKenzie, wey dem bin jail before for bank robbery but later turn motivational speaker. Kunene plus McKenzie invest for seafood distribution business.

Kunene too work as public relations consultant den lobbyist for some mining companies. For March 2012, de Hawks ein spokesperson McIntosh Polela talk say dem investigate Kunene for how he allegedly deceive communities plus possible shareholders wey relate to mining rights application by Central Rand Gold (CRG), but dem no charge am.

Kunene support African National Congress (ANC) before, till 2013 wey he write hard letter attack President Jacob Zuma ein leadership. For July 2013, he join Economic Freedom Fighters as big man for de "Central Command Team", but by August 2013, he resign from de party.

By November 2013, Kunene come be Secretary-General for new political party wey dem call Patriotic Alliance. Right now, he dey focus on ein businesses — like smart city technology company wey dey run YooKoo Ride (e-hailing taxi app) for South Africa, plus public relations, government relations, skills training and development, mining consulting den investment. Kunene still dey serve as Transport MMC for de City of Johannesburg.

 Political career 

 1986 

 Around age 15, dem jail Kunene for six months sake of how he take part for student protest under apartheid wey happen for Free State — dat be ein first entry for political activism.

 2013 

 Early insyd de year, he publicly cut ein connection plus ANC as he write open letter wey heavily criticize de then-President Jacob Zuma.
 July: Joined de newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as part of its Central Command Team.
 August: Resigned from de EFF after only a few weeks amid leadership shifts.
 November: Co-founded de Patriotic Alliance (PA) plus Gayton McKenzie den become its first Secretary‑General.

 2014 

 Step down as Secretary‑General to focus on personal business interests (though remained active insyd de party).

 2022 

 April: Publicly support de PA’s pragmatic governance style alongside McKenzie, particularly highlighting ein willingness to forgo a mayoral salary insyd service delivery insyd de Central Karoo.

 2023 

 February: Sanso become a city councillor insyd Johannesburg following a reshuffle. He later be elected to de Mayoral Committee by Mayor Thapelo Amad
 Appoint by Executive Mayor of Johannesburg Kabelo Gwamanda as MMC for Transport.

 2025 

 Insyd July 2025, dem put Kunene for special leave wey go last 30 days after dem catch am for house of one suspect wey dem arrest as part of DJ Sumbody ein case. Kunene talk say he just happen to dey de wrong place at de wrong time.

 Personal life 
Kunene get five pikin: Mpho, Thato, Mosa, Remo den Reemona. Right now, he dey live plus three of dem pikin den ein wife, Nonkululeko “MaRemo” Whitney Mhlanga, for Sandton, Johannesburg. Kunene be de third born among four children. Ein big sister Disebo (wey die) be de first-born, den Papiki, den de last born be Neo.

Kunene dey popular for ein love for sushi, dat be why for South Africa dem dey call am "The Sushi King" or "Mr. Sushi". Ein birthday party wey happen on 21 October 2010 wey include de then ANCYL president Julius Malema plus nyotaimori (wey be di act of serving sushi on naked body of woman) cause plenty backlash. De then COSATU secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi condemn am sharp, wey cause political palava. ANCWL too talk say dat nyotaimori be attack against de bodily integrity den dignity of women for South Africa.

 Insyd media 
Kunene be de main person for one South African reality TV show wey dem call So What: Big Money, Big Dreams wey e.tv show for 2011. For 2013, he appear for episode four of British travel documentary TV series The Moaning of Life. Then insyd April 2014, Comedy Central Africa do roast for am wey dem call Roast of Kenny Kunene, wey make am de "roastee". Kunene too get two online news platforms: WeeklyXpose den AfricaNews 24-7. 

 References 
Category:Living people

 External links 

Category:1970 births
Category:Human
Category:South African people
Category:Economic Freedom Fighters politicians
Category:Patriotic Alliance (South Africa) politicians
Category:People wey komot Lejweleputswa District Municipality
Category:South African bank robbers
Category:South African businesspeople
Category:South African politicians dem convict of fraud
Category:South African prisoners den detainees
Category:Prisoners den detainees of South Africa
Category:21st-century South African politicians