The Patriotic Alliance (PA) was formed by businessmen Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene in November 2013 in Paarl, Western Cape. Three months before its formation, Kunene was a member of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The PA believes that South Africa is still dominated by structural inequalities. For this reason, it wishes to establish state-private partnerships in key sectors; and to reduce the use of consultants by the state.
The party’s mission is to root out corruption in both the public and private sectors and to bring about tangible change. It also wishes to become a “viable alternative” to Democratic Alliance (DA) and the African National Congress as an opposition party.
During the launch of the party, McKenzie said the party aimed to be a “huge force” and would do far more than the DA ever did to transform the lives of the previously disadvantaged in the Western Cape and elsewhere. The DA hit back and dismissed the party’s chances at the 2014 polling booths.
The PA’s most notable pronouncement is the suggestion that Black Economic Empowerment be changed from a model that benefits only a few selected black elite individuals to one that benefits all registered voters from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
A bulk of the party’s membership can be found in the Coloured communities of the Western Cape, but the Patriotic Alliance promises to canvass support across racial lines.
In 2016, the Patriotic Alliance got 22 236 votes (0.06%). The party won extra wards through by-elections in 2020 and 2021 in Johannesburg – mostly from the DA.
