Gayton McKenzie is a South African politician, businessman, author, public speaker, ex-prisoner and former gang member. He currently serves as the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. He is also the father of Calvyn Le’John, the chairperson of Siwelele FC, a Premier Soccer League club based in the Free State.

Quick Facts

Full Name: Gayton McKenzie
Date of Birth: 10 March 1974
Place of Birth: Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
Occupation: Politician, businessman, author, public speaker
Political Party: Patriotic Alliance (PA)
Current Position: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture (since 3 July 2024)
Previous Position: Mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality (2022–2024)
Children: Calvyn Le’John
Known For: Founding the Patriotic Alliance, co-owning Zar nightclub, writing The Choice: The Gayton McKenzie Story

Early Life and Imprisonment

Gayton McKenzie was born on 10 March 1974 in Bloemfontein in the Free State. He grew up during the last years of apartheid and became involved in crime at a young age.

In 1996, he was arrested and sentenced to prison for a bank robbery. While in prison, McKenzie secretly recorded a video exposing corruption among prison warders who sold weapons, drugs and juvenile inmates for sex. The footage caused a national outcry and exposed serious abuses within South African prisons.

Life After Prison

After serving his sentence, McKenzie was released and began working in communities, giving motivational talks at schools and youth events. His life story inspired many, and he began writing books that reflected his personal transformation.

His first book, The Choice: The Gayton McKenzie Story, became a national bestseller. His later books, including A Hustler’s Bible, The Uncomfortable Truth and Kill Zuma by Any Means Necessary, also sold widely and established him as a motivational figure.

Business Career

McKenzie built a successful business career after his release. He invested in several industries including mining, publishing, entertainment, consulting, restaurants and lounges.

Together with his friend and former fellow inmate Kenny Kunene, he co-owned Zar, a popular Johannesburg nightclub that became a celebrity hotspot in the early 2010s. The pair became symbols of post-apartheid hustle culture, mixing politics, business and nightlife in South Africa’s urban scene.

Political Career

In 2013, McKenzie co-founded the Patriotic Alliance (PA), a political party that positioned itself as a voice for coloured and working-class South Africans. Under his leadership, the party became a key player in coalition politics in several municipalities and later gained representation in the National Assembly and four provincial legislatures.

In 2022, McKenzie was elected Mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality. During his time in office, he pledged to donate his entire salary to charity and focused on service delivery. On 3 July 2024, he was appointed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in the South African government.

Controversies

Alleged Corruption
In 2022, while serving as mayor, McKenzie hosted a fundraising gala in Sandton that reportedly raised R3 million for service delivery. Questions later arose when the money was apparently not deposited into the municipality’s official accounts.

Gang Allegations
A former 26s gang member, McKenzie has faced claims of maintaining links with gang networks. In 2022, he was accused of influencing the transfer of Eldorado Park gangster Jermaine Prim to a maximum-security prison. In 2024, a Mail & Guardian investigation alleged that his party received funding from the daughter of slain 27s gang boss William “Red” Stevens, an allegation Mckenzie denies.

Xenophobia and Public Remarks
McKenzie is known for his slogan “Abahambe,” meaning “let them go,” referring to African immigrants in South Africa. In 2024, he was criticised for questioning Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina’s eligibility, citing her parents’ foreign origins. A Home Affairs investigation later found her birth was fraudulently registered, leading to her withdrawal from the competition.

Racial Slurs
In August 2025, old posts resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter) in which McKenzie used the k-word racial slur aimed at Black South Africans. The revelations drew widespread condemnation and led to formal complaints filed with the South African Human Rights Commission and Parliament’s ethics committee.

Alleged Ties to Drug Cartels

In 2025, KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged the existence of a drug cartel known as the “Big 5,” involving police officers and politicians. Media reports linked McKenzie’s business partner Kenny Kunene to the group. McKenzie appointed a law firm to investigate and Kunene was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Personal Life

Gayton McKenzie often speaks publicly about faith, redemption and the power of personal change. He is a father and family man who continues to balance his political and business interests with his public image as a motivational figure.

Legacy

McKenzie’s life story represents one of South Africa’s most dramatic turnarounds. From a convicted bank robber and gang member to a cabinet minister, his rise is both inspirational and controversial. His supporters see him as proof that anyone can change their life, while critics question his political style and past associations.

Despite the controversy, McKenzie remains one of South Africa’s most visible and outspoken political figures.

Books by Gayton McKenzie

• The Choice: The Gayton McKenzie Story
• A Hustler’s Bible: Words to Hustlers
• The Uncomfortable Truth
• A Hustler’s Bible: The New Testament
• Kill Zuma by Any Means Necessary