PA to meet ANC on Kunene reinstatement amid threats of resignation

The meeting comes amid warnings from PA leader Gayton McKenzie that he and his party could resign from the Government of National Unity if Kunene is not reinstated.

In a Facebook Live briefing with party members on Monday, McKenzie confirmed that the PA leadership will fly to Johannesburg for a face-to-face meeting with the ANC.

He emphasised that the decision to potentially resign is a collective party stance, not a personal threat.

"The party decision has been taken that I should resign if they don’t reinstate Kenny. So we can’t have our party decision being changed." 

The PA leader also sought to quell speculation about the party’s position regarding a possible vote of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

"I will never join that. I will still support President Ramaphosa even if I’m not there. Because I stand on principle, rejecting suggestions that leaving government would equate to undermining the president."

He added that the PA will approach the ANC meeting with a clear strategy.

"We are not going there as PA, as arrogant people, and hold guns against people’s heads. We are going there with a party decision."

The PA’s strong stance comes after a series of internal party discussions and public speculation around the government’s restructuring and Kunene’s absence from his post.

McKenzie framed the potential resignation as an example of leadership by principle, saying it would be inconsistent to remain in office while a key party decision is ignored.

"Once I, as the leader, stand down from my position, why am I staying? That’s not leadership. A leader must walk in front."

Political analysts suggest the upcoming meeting will test the PA’s influence within the coalition government and could have wider implications for ANC-PA relations ahead of local government elections.

The ANC has yet to respond publicly to the PA’s call for Kunene’s reinstatement.

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