A former gangster and bank robber who turned into a nightclub owner and opposition politician, Gayton McKenzie has now risen to become South Africa's minister of sports, arts and culture.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mr McKenzie - the leader of the Patriotic Alliance party (PA) - to the portfolio in the multi-party government that he announced on Sunday after his African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority in the 29 May election.

A prolific tweeter, the 50-year-old relished his appointment, posting a photo of himself putting on football boots and, with a touch of humour, typed: "Thank you for all the well wishing messages, I will reply shortly I’m just busy getting ready, I have work to do".

At his swearing in ceremony three days later, Mr McKenzie had his audience, including Mr Ramaphosa, laughing when, in response to the chief justice asking him to be seated, he quipped: "The last time a judge asked me to sit, he made me sit for 10 years."

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9NoopkUTW8?si=O2Mx9HMYHuN2bFgO

For Mr McKenzie's admirers, his appointment is the latest sign of how he overcame adversity to achieve success. He robbed his first bank before he turned 16, then became, as he put in an interview with a local radio station, a fully fledged gangster, spent seven years in prison, and vowed to change after his early release.

"I might have had 12 rand ($0.65; £0.50) in my pocket but I had billion rand in my mind. And that is what people do not understand - they concentrate on what they lack instead of how to get what they lack," he said in a 2013 interview with public broadcaster SABC.

He became a highly paid motivational speaker, got books about his life published, including A Hustler's Bible, and ventured into various businesses - from mining in Zimbabwe to nightclubs in South Africa - with Kenny Kunene, his soulmate from prison.

These days, he is better known as a politician, having launched the PA in 2013, with Mr Kunene as his deputy.

More than a decade later, the party gained 2% of the national vote and fared better in elections for the provincial government in the Western Cape, getting 8%.

Political analyst Kagiso Pooe told the BBC that Mr McKenzie had a "bravado" style, which appeals to his constituency.

"People want to believe and see someone that comes from their type of background and isn’t shy to say: 'This is who I am.' You see it with people like President Zuma, President Trump and other such personalities," he said.

ANTI-IMMIGRATION

Mr McKenzie's campaign against undocumented migrants was a vote-winner for him, the analyst added.

"Unfortunately, mainstream politicians and parties have shied away from this and he tackles it directly."

Critics denounced his campaign as xenophobic. He waged it under the slogan "Abahambe", which he has translated from the Zulu as "Let them go" - and, in a publicity stunt, he visited the border with Zimbabwe to chase away people trying to enter South Africa.

McKenzie on illegal migrants:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJJDcCPNNhE?si=mOtmp89jJJGP0qYw

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ex-gangster-become-south-africas-004611309.html

In 2002, McKenzie was behind the secret filming of an expose into the secret sale of juvenile inmates to older prisoners for sex. It was a global sensation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RF3pldaxoU?si=aPw1CGhR2NFHwu63

I am not impressed. Wake me up when you have a drug baron turned president.

Nigeria is years ahead of SA


Uncle please tell me another story

ValCon888:
I am not impressed. Wake me up when you have a drug baron turned president.

Heeheeheee!

What message are they trying to pass? That crimes pay or?

South Africa is gradually encouraging rascality like Nigeria. When this fellow eventually makes his way to the top, the country will pay the heavy price.

Perhaps the only reason why a questionable character like this cannot get to the top is that nobody sits in their office to write election results or rewrites the entire result of a state without any consequences.

While somewhere again in Africa, a drug baron turned President of the federal republic.

helinues:
What message are they trying to pass? That crimes pay or?

no that everyone with bad past can change and rise to the top. He was bold to talk about his past that's the first sign of true repentance(confession). He is a motivational speaker as well.

At least he’s not the president😂

Every sane person deserves a second chance.

Hopefully he appreciate this opportunity

This man may have repented from his sins.


But Tinupoo is still a Drug Baron till today, even as a president.

helinues:
What message are they trying to pass? That crimes pay or?

strong men and psychopaths rule the world

This is very normal in Nigeria as we've seen many ex-convicts turn to Governors and even Presidents

It's normal in Africa...


In Nigeria, a drug Lord and a criminal of the highest order is the president..

Wannahowzit,no uproar from you lots because of his anti immigration policies,we get it...

maybe he heard that a criminal drug lord is now the president of a country so why can't he

We have bank robbers turn pastors nothing new

Certainly not a new thing....

We've politicians here who have don worst.......Just that, how can Africa ever developed when we keep on recruiting and rebranding ex criminals and placing them into lucrative positions.

JAMO84:
I hope the Pandora criminal who spent State money on his family business, and save state money in his bank to yield interest will never smell public office again.

Pandora criminal who refused to conduct local.goverment election for 7 years and refused to explain what he did with local government allocations.

17 bottles of bitter obi will cure you from what you are suffering because yours is chronic

helinues:
What message are they trying to pass? That crimes pay or?

Have you ever condemn Tinupoo about his Drug Peddling Business?


APC zombies

Nigeria nko

People don't change.

He may still rob/steal public funds as a minister.

This is an own goal from SA govt

hmm

Dah one nah talk?

It's even better than our Nigeria Politician that Rob the masses on a broad day light and still brag about it.

Common man can not comprehend

Despise not his days of little beginning, he has dropped weapon for Pen 🖊️ robbery.

Now he can rob in peace without fear.

😂😂😏😏😏😏😏😏🤧😏🤧😏🤧😏🤧😏