Spare Jozi from the likes of Kenny Kunene

I totally understand those who contributed to a Twitter thread about the minimum educational qualifications politicians should possess.

I would love to take our concerns as South Africans even further than just beyond books. At what point do traits like being ethical, accountable, sensible and just plain decent count?

None of us are saints, but even with that said, there are those who are trying and some who operate with a level of impunity. Councillor Kenny Kunene is part of the latter.

ALSO READ: Kenny Kunene to evict residents from buildings during his two-day stint as Joburg mayor

The self-proclaimed Sushi King – a convicted criminal who served time for running a Ponzi scheme and who is better-known for eating sushi off naked women’s bodies – was Joburg’s acting mayor for two days.

Yes, I fully realise that we live in a time where an upright public servant is as rare as a constant supply of power, but could we not have appointed someone without such a chequered past?

So, you are telling me that the best we can do is a former businessman who organised parties while he was in prison?

Let us not forget that the last businessman who also had an affinity for ladies and fine food is back in court, facing a number of charges.

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Of course, there will always be the argument that a man should never be judged only by his past, which is true. So, what did Kunene do in his two-day guest appearance? He went after illegally occupied buildings in the CBD of Joburg, evicting residents.

That is how you make maximum splash, most probably setting yourself up as the next mayor, which may be sooner than you think.

My real qualms are with new Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda. He had to take care of official business out of town and this necessitated the appointment of the pescetarian.

Why can’t politicians do business on Zoom, like the rest of us? For two years during lockdown, there was business to be taken care of and it was all done virtually. So what was so important that Gwamanda had to leave and allow Kunene to take the reins?

ALSO READ: Kenny Kunene explains the ‘flip-flopping’ role of the PA in municipal coalitions

Is it possible that he was quickly attending an out-of-town two-day course, so that he can improve his academic qualifications, which have come under scrutiny?

Surely, even this could have been done online, just to have spared Jozi from the likes of Kunene?