‘We prioritise South Africans’ – Kunene holds ground on illegal miner remarks

GNU

Cape Town – Johannesburg MMC for Transport and Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene, remains defiant after the EFF announced announced plans to report him to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over his controversial remarks about illegal miners.

Kunene, who recently made headlines for his remarks about miners who died in Stilfontein, called for harsher sentences and expressed no sympathy for those who died, suggesting they should face a gruesome fate.

“I have no sympathy for those who have died stealing the wealth of our country. They have committed a crime by entering this country illegally,” IOL quoted Kunene as saying.

He added: “After serving 40 or 50 years in prison, they must then be deported. Serious countries do not treat this matter as lightly as our government. These are serious criminals. I will not sympathise with them. In fact, I am hoping God kills all of them; they must burn underground and in hell.”

On Sunday, Kunene posted an image of butchered animals, claiming it represented the fate that illegal miners would face.

“This is the chilling fate that awaits all illegal miners robbing South Africans of their natural resources and wealth when the Patriotic Alliance takes over government. Salute,” he said on X.

The EFF condemned his statements, calling them harmful and dehumanising, vowing to report him to the SAHRC and Johannesburg’s Ethics Committee for sanctions.

In response, Kunene dismissed the EFF’s actions, accusing party leader Julius Malema of supporting illegal foreigners.

He described illegal miners as “rats” who exploit South Africa’s resources and commit crimes.

“I am not fazed by the actions of Malema. He has shown, in many times, on many occasions, that he is a lover of illegal foreigners,” he said in a video posted on X.

He reiterated his party’s stance on mass deportation and harsh penalties, advocating for illegal miners to face execution under a PA-led government.

“Our stance is very clear that all illegal foreigners must be mass deported, and our position is very clear. Illegal foreigners who steal the wealth of this country will be hanged,” Kunene said.

Kunene defended the PA’s focus on prioritising South Africans, criticizing Malema as an enemy of the nation.

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