Gayton McKenzie

Gayton McKenzie
Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 July 2024
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
Preceded byZizi Kodwa
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 June 2024
Executive Mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality
In office
11 April 2022 – 2 May 2023
DeputyGideon Petersen
Preceded byJohanna Botha
Member of the Laingsburg Municipal Council
In office
7 April 2022 – 14 June 2024
Preceded byMitchell Smith
President of the Patriotic Alliance
Founder of the Patriotic Alliance
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 November 2013
DeputyKenny Kunene
Preceded byParty founded
Personal details
Born
Gayton McKenzie

(1974-03-10) 10 March 1974 (age 50)[1]
Heidedal, Orange Free State, South Africa
Political partyPatriotic Alliance (2013–present)
Other political
affiliations		African National Congress (before 2013)
Spouse
Nicolette Joubert
​
(m. 2003)​
(divorced)
Children8
Occupation
  • Businessman
  • politician
  • motivational speaker
  • author
  • activist

Gayton McKenzie (born 10 March 1974) is a South African ex-convict, businessman, author, motivational speaker and politician who is currently serving as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in the Government of National Unity (GNU) since July 2024.

After spending eight years in jail from age 21 for armed robbery, McKenzie became a businessman, motivational speaker, author and former Executive Mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality.[2][3][4] He is also the president of the Patriotic Alliance political party.[5] He came to prominence in the early 2000s for his role in a prison exposé that eventually led to his early release amid an investigation of prison corruption by the Jali Commission of Inquiry.[6] McKenzie grew up in the Heidedal neighborhood of Bloemfontein, South Africa.[7]

  1. ^ "Gayton McKenzie Biography, Age, Wife, Education, Career, Net Worth". City Media. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Gayton McKenzie: I robbed a bank before age 16". Power 98.7. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Jail rape melted the ice in brutal gangster's heart". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. ^ Dolley, Caryn (30 August 2021). "Road to Local Elections: What do a gangster, a pastor and sushi have in common? The Patriotic Alliance". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  5. ^ McKenzie, Gayton. "Thug to Thug - Gayton McKenzie's harsh open letter to Julius Malema". Times LIVE.
  6. ^ "COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF CORRUPTION, MALADMINISTRATION, VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES APPOINTED BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA IN TERMS OF PROCLAMATION NO. 135 OF 2001, AS AMENDED" (PDF). Government Communication and Information System. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ Khumalo, Juniour. "Patriotic Alliance's Gayton McKenzie accused of lies, deceit by residents of his former home town". News24. Retrieved 21 January 2022.