Gayton McKenzie, the colourful leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), has stepped down as mayor of the Central Karoo district municipality.
McKenzie had pledged that he would serve for only one year before getting on the campaign trail ahead of next year’s national elections.
In his resignation letter, McKenzie said he believed that he had left things improved, compared to how he had found them, and that should be the goal of every politician.
Said McKenzie: ‘I found my people using bucket toilets for decades; today no-one is using bucket toilets. People used the veld and today they are using flushing toilets.’
McKenzie also said that he had not drawn a salary while working as mayor and had paid for all his own expenses. His salary had been donated to the community, he said.
The PA has played an important kingmaker role in a number of municipalities since the 2021 municipal elections. The party is expected to win its first parliamentary seats next year.
Image: Facebook