McKenzie says PA would reinstate death penalty, bring prayer and military service to schools

Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie said the party would reinstate the death penalty, introduce morning prayers in schools and compel children to undergo military service if the PA comes to power. He made the remarks while speaking at the PA’s Buffalo City mayoral campaign launch in Buffalo Flats, outside KuGompo City.

Promises at the campaign launch

At the launch McKenzie linked the party’s proposals to what he described as a moral failure in education. He said the removal of religious instruction from schools was the root of many problems and set out the PA’s priorities if it were to govern.

“You see, all our problems in South Africa stem from one thing. We’ve taken God out of our schools. Once we can bring God back into schools, under the PA regime, we will bring back the death penalty. We will bring back God into schools.”

McKenzie said children would be taught scripture before other subjects and that the PA would ensure children were sent to the army, adding:

“The PA government will make sure that children are going to the army by fire or by force. We have no time to play,”

He also urged voters to read the party’s manifesto.

Campaign framing and criticisms of other parties

McKenzie addressed voters in Buffalo City directly, arguing that previous opportunities to the African National Congress had not delivered improved living standards. He said residents remained poor despite being governed by the ANC and suggested a change was needed.

“My message to the people of Buffalo City is that you’ve given the ANC a chance, you are still poor. You’ve given the PA a chance, you are still poor,”

He called on voters to consider the PA’s manifesto and presented the party as a growing political force. The PA’s mayoral candidate for Buffalo City, Graham Lotteri, urged voters to alter voting patterns and described the upcoming ballot as an “eviction order” for the ANC and the Democratic Alliance.

“Things have got to change. I mean, when we go to the ballot box now, this is not going to be a normal vote, as I said earlier on. This is going to be an eviction order that we’re going to serve to these two parties at the end of the day,”

Buffalo City context and mayoral contenders

The launch took place amid ongoing service delivery challenges in Buffalo City Municipality. The municipality faces water and sanitation shortages, poor waste management, failing sanitation infrastructure, financial mismanagement and corruption probes, according to the campaign materials.

Incumbent mayor Princess Faku has held the position since March 2023. Faku entered local government leadership after working at the National Youth Development Agency and serving in Parliament, and she became mayor after the ANC recalled her predecessor, Xola Pakati, amid concerns over the city’s audit outcomes, expenditure and revenue collection.

Several parties have named mayoral candidates or are considering contenders for Buffalo City. Named candidates and parties in the race include:

• The ANC: potential candidates include Princess Faku, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nocawe Mafu, Simphiwe Dzengwa and Ncedo Kumbaca.
• United Democratic Movement: deputy president Ngabayomzi Kwankwa is its Buffalo City mayoral candidate.
• Economic Freedom Fighters: parliamentarian Mkhululi Dlevu is the EFF candidate.
• MK Party: Mzwandile Vaaibom has been named.
• The Democratic Alliance has indicated it will not field a mayoral candidate for Buffalo City.

What the PA says it will focus on

McKenzie said the PA would prioritise job creation and tackling crime in Buffalo City. He described widespread poverty during a tour with the PA mayoral candidate and said the party would act to change residents’ lives.