Gayton McKenzie to Resign and Pull Patriotic Alliance Out of GNU
Patriotic Alliance leader says resignation is final and will take effect on Tuesday.
- Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie confirms withdrawal from GNU.
- McKenzie vows to resign as Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister on Tuesday.
- PA to exit all coalition governments across the country.
- Announcement sparks political uncertainty in municipalities.
- No immediate response from the Presidency on McKenzie’s statement.
Cape Town — Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has announced that his party will withdraw from the Government of National Unity (GNU) and that he will resign from his ministerial position on Tuesday.
Speaking in a late-night statement, McKenzie said the decision was final and not up for negotiation. He stressed that the PA would also pull out of coalition governments across the country, citing disagreements with how the GNU was being managed.
We are not considering withdrawal — we are withdrawing. On Tuesday, I will hand in my resignation,” McKenzie said.
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with analysts warning of potential instability in key municipalities where the PA has played a decisive role in coalition governance.
The Presidency has not yet issued an official response, but opposition parties have already weighed in, saying McKenzie’s move reflects deeper cracks in the GNU experiment.
McKenzie is currently the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, a post he assumed earlier this year under the unity government arrangement.
His resignation is expected to trigger cabinet reshuffles and new negotiations between GNU partners in the coming days.