THE Western Cape Government (WCG) will oppose a court application by Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie seeking to halt an investigation into a R3 million scandal during his time as mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality.
McKenzie, currently the National Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, launched the Gauteng High Court bid to terminate the Section 106 probe into municipal affairs during his tenure as mayor.
The controversy centres on a 2022 gala dinner where McKenzie reportedly raised R3m for a “100-day plan” involving infrastructure projects like repairing bucket toilets.
Allegations suggest these funds were administered outside official financial systems rather than being deposited into the municipality’s bank account.
McKenzie’s legal team argues the investigation, instituted in August 2023, legally expired after a 90-day statutory deadline.
They contend that after this period, jurisdiction shifts to national authorities, exhausting the provincial mandate.
However, WC Local Government MEC Anton Bredell countered that McKenzie has utilised a long series of legal challenges – extending to the Constitutional Court – to frustrate the probe and avoid legitimate scrutiny.
He noted that despite court orders compelling cooperation, McKenzie has continuously sought to avoid answering questions regarding the fundraising initiative and broader governance concerns.
Bredell warned that allowing investigations to be terminated simply through delay tactics would undermine accountability and thwart Parliament’s intentions for municipal oversight.
Bredell wysed: “Every delay serves only to postpone accountability to the residents of the Central Karoo.”
Bredell said that serious questions remained regarding the handling and administration of the fundraising initiative, together with other governance concerns that warranted an independent statutory investigation.
In his founding affidavit, McKenzie’s lawyer Eugene Botha said on 25 April 2025, the same day as the council sitting, McKenzie’s company transferred R1 182 000 into the bank account of the municipality under the reference “GALAEVENT2022. MCKENZ”.
Bredell, meanwhile, said instead of answering legitimate questions, McKenzie “has repeatedly sought to avoid scrutiny through litigation”.
Bredell said the Western Cape Government is confident that the court will reject what amounts to another attempt to derail a lawful investigation.