Liam Jacobs swaps parliament for Joburg council in PA power shake-up

Key topics:Jacobs replaces Kunene as PA councillor amid controversy.Deployment seen as preparation for Tshwane mayoral run.McKenzie dismisses rumours of Jacobs becoming deputy president.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..By Kerry Lanaghan.Just over a month after his dramatic departure from the Democratic Alliance (DA), former MP Liam Jacobs has re-emerged in South African politics, this time as a City of Johannesburg councillor for the Patriotic Alliance (PA).As reported by Daily Maverick, PA leader Gayton McKenzie confirmed Jacobs's deployment on Monday evening, 28 July, during an address to supporters. Jacobs replaces Kenny Kunene, the party's deputy president, who resigned last week under a cloud of controversy after being found at the Sandton home of murder accused Katiso "KT" Molefe, just as police arrived to arrest Molefe."The party is deploying Liam Jacobs as the new councillor in the City of Johannesburg," said McKenzie, adding that Jacobs needed "local government experience" ahead of his candidacy as the PA's mayoral hopeful in Tshwane for the 2026 elections."You're about to fix the potholes of Joburg," McKenzie told Jacobs. "So you can know what is expected of you when you run Pretoria."Gayton McKenzie's full announcement of Liam Jacobs' new role can be watched on Newslive SA here.It is not yet clear whether Jacobs will also assume Kunene's former role as Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero is expected to make new MMC appointments in the coming days, including a replacement for Margaret Arnolds, who recently became council Speaker.Kunene, who claimed his visit to Molefe's house was in his capacity as the owner of African News Global, has denied any close ties to the murder suspect. Molefe is accused in the 2022 drive-by killing of popular musician Oupa Sefoka, known as DJ Sumbody.The PA has announced that a legal firm will be appointed to investigate the circumstances of Kunene's visit to Molefe's home, including how the address was obtained and the identity of the journalist reportedly present.From parliament to council chambersJacobs joins the PA's growing Johannesburg caucus, which now holds 10 council seats after recent by-election gains. Since leaving the DA during a late-night announcement on Youth Day, Jacobs has been visible on the campaign trail and active on social media, a hallmark of his political style.Previously, Jacobs served as an MP on Parliament's oversight committee for sports, arts and culture, headed by McKenzie himself. Despite their current alliance, Jacobs had previously been a vocal critic of the department, often using social media to challenge its leadership and raise red flags over alleged inefficiencies.Jacobs had been considered a rising star and student leader inside the DA. His resignation drew criticism from senior figures, including DA deputy federal chair Ashor Sarupen, who described Jacobs's move as a "huge mistake."McKenzie addressed growing speculation that Jacobs might replace Kunene as the party's deputy president, dismissing the claims as "gossip from outside the PA." He confirmed that the position remains vacant for now, with no appointment planned until the investigation into Kunene's conduct concludes.

Liam Jacobs swaps parliament for Joburg council in PA power shake-up

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