PA leader Gayton McKenzie quashes suggestions that he is an autocrat

CAPE TOWN - Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has dismissed suggestions that he runs an autocratic party, saying he’s empowering people to take over the reins from him.

With no elected structures in the party, McKenzie believes he’s being directed by communities as to who should represent the party in governance structures.

In a wide-ranging weekly message to supporters on Monday night, McKenzie once again expressed disdain for the country’s media, claiming unfair bias against the PA.

McKenzie said it’s a fact that his party is the fastest-growing in South Africa.

Last week, his party narrowly lost a by-election to the African National Congress (ANC) in Knysna by a mere 31 votes.

McKenzie said while his party is on the up, it’s the media who’re hellbent on bringing him down.

“They say the PA is a dictatorship. How can this be dictatorship if you tell us who you want to lead in your area? “

Instead McKenzie has taken a swipe at his political nemesis - the democratic alliance - for how it selects its leaders.

“The DA (Democratic Alliance) will make you write exams like you are back at school again. Here, the community tells us: ‘President, this is our mayoral candidate, this is our councillor. Where have you seen a party like that?’”

During September, McKenzie said he’s instructed his party’s recruiters to not only sign up new members, but to ensure they are registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) as he sets his sights on growing support in the Western Cape, in particular.

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