The recent announcement of Kenny Kunene’s retirement has generated a lot of discussion: is it an admission of guilt or a calculated move? After being discovered at the residence of Katiso “TK” Molefe, the suspected mastermind behind the 2022 murder of musician DJ Sumbody, Kunene, the deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance and MMC for Transport in Johannesburg, came under heavy fire. Although his party leader Gayton McKenzie defended Kunene’s character and put him on leave during the investigation, Kunene maintained that he was there to help a journalist with an interview.
The Johannesburg DA is among the critics who have demanded Kunene’s resignation, calling his justification “laughable” and citing the dubious circumstances and timing of his visit to Molefe’s home. This has stoked rumors that Kunene’s retirement could be an implicit admission of guilt or a calculated move to preserve the party’s image. His retirement coincides with the appointment of a law firm to carry out a forensic investigation into the incident.
The public’s interest and conjecture about Kunene’s intentions are heightened by his contentious past, which includes a jail term for operating a Ponzi scheme and his extravagant lifestyle. Both McKenzie and Kunene’s supporters, however, insist on his innocence and stress that his decision to retire is merely a precautionary measure until the investigation is finished.
In summary, public opinion is still split on whether Kunene’s retirement is a calculated move or a covert admission of guilt, despite official statements portraying it as a responsible move in the face of grave accusations. The truth behind this controversial period in Kunene’s political career will be revealed in large part by the forthcoming formal investigation.
