With his GNU future in the balance, McKenzie a no-show at Cabinet lekgotla

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie was a no-show on Tuesday at the extended Cabinet lekgotla, with his future in the Government of National Unity (GNU) uncertain.

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) president has recently threatened to resign from his ministerial position if his deputy president, Kenny Kunene, is not reinstated as the MMC for transport by the Johannesburg mayor.

As members of the national executive meet in Pretoria on Tuesday for a strategy session on growing the economy, McKenzie’s absence is noticeably conspicuous.

ALSO READ: Gayton McKenzie holding off intention to resign from GNU

For Tuesday’s Cabinet lekgotla, members of the national executive have been given their marching orders on how they can grow the country’s economy in their respective departments.

When the media was let inside the meeting hall, McKenzie was not among those present.

Cabinet spokesperson, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, had this to say about his absence.

"The issues of who pulls out [of the GNU], who doesn’t pull out is not an issue of Cabinet, it’s an issue of political parties. The parties to the GNU will to respond to that but this morning, I heard Minister McKenzie speaking in his capacity as minister of government."

McKenzie, along with some senior members of his party, is due to meet with the African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday night to resolve the outstanding issues.