McKenzie to stand as Western Cape premier candidate for the PA

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) National Executive Committee (NEC) has announced that party leader Gayton McKenzie will stand as the party’s premier candidate in the Western Cape. 

The party said this was deliberated at a meeting of the NEC in George in the Western Cape over the weekend. 

PA deputy secretary-general Meshé Habana said McKenzie has a bold vision for governing the Western Cape. 

“Leader McKenzie already distinguished himself in the province as the executive mayor of the Central Karoo and has a bold vision for governing the Western Cape, which has become a stronghold for the PA, as demonstrated by its recent by-election wins in the province,” she said. 

McKenzie to also stand as party’s presidential candidate

Habana also said McKenzie will stand as the party’s presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. 

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“As the leader of the party, McKenzie will simultaneously stand as the PA’s presidential candidate. 

In the event  that the PA is in a position to enter into a national coalition after the May 29 elections, that possibility will be explored. But leader McKenzie has committed himself to leading the Western Cape.

As it is now clear that the province will be severely hung and the PA is likely to emerge as a kingmaker, including in Gauteng, which is being contested by PA deputy president Kenny Kunene. 

We are confident that the PA will continue to grow from strength and that all our premier candidates will make the party proud,” Habana said. 

Party plans to remove the DA from the Western Cape

Reacting to the announcement, McKenzie said he graciously accepted the assignment to stand as premier.

“Patriotic Alliance deployed me to what many deems as mission impossible, removing the DA from the Western Cape. We are about to expose that myth. 

I graciously accepted the assignment to also be the Premier Candidate of the Western Cape,” he said. 

The party’s NEC also announced that PA deputy leader Kenny Kunene will be the party’s premier candidate for Gauteng.

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