The Israel Daily News Podcast is the only Israeli media President McKenzie spoke to during his trip to the Holy Land. Listen to the full interview in Thursday’s Israel Daily News Podcast. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts.
We address allegations against him.
Gayton McKenzie, a once-convicted bank robber transformed his life after a decade behind bars. Now a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and the Mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality in South Africa, McKenzie shares insights into his journey. However, controversy arises as we delve into his recent visit to Israel, a move criticized by the South African BDS Coalition.
McKenzie, also the founder of the Patriotic Alliance political party, faces scrutiny for his trip to Israel, a nation often labeled as an apartheid state by many South Africans. In the upcoming interview, McKenzie addresses these concerns and defends his stance.
Post-interview, we examine the strong condemnation voiced by the South African BDS Coalition, which denounces McKenzie and Kenny Kunene, another PA leader, for acting against the global call to boycott Apartheid Israel. The BDS movement advocates for the boycott, divestment, and sanctioning of Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for justice, human rights, and self-determination.
The press release from BDS supporters sheds light on McKenzie’s controversial past, including his resignation as mayor amid financial questions. The statement also criticizes Kunene’s history of misogyny, linking both figures to Israel’s South African connections. This contentious visit prompts concerns about the values upheld by the Patriotic Alliance, as it navigates accusations of racism, xenophobia, brutality, and exclusion.
As the interview unfolds, hear McKenzie’s perspective on the criticisms leveled against him and the implications of his visit to Israel.
