Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says his party is not only growing but is now the fastest-growing political party in South Africa. 

Speaking during a live broadcast on Monday night, McKenzie dismissed any suggestion that the PA is in decline and said the numbers back it up.

“We are the fastest growing political party in the country.”

This isn’t just empty bragging or flashy talk, no, these are facts, It’s pure facts, said McKenzie. ”We can show you scientifically that we are the fastest growing political party in South Africa,” McKenzie said.

He urged members to be proud of the party’s growth and not to assume the organisation is facing trouble. “You must sit here and think our party is in trouble or whatever, no, we are the fastest growing political party in the country.”

McKenzie encouraged members to lead from the ground instead of waiting for top-down instructions, rejecting accusations that the PA is a dictatorship.

“If you are a real PA member, I want you to know that you must start building where you are. Don’t wait for us to give you instructions. Come tell the leadership, ‘We have got together with the community.’ In PA, they say PA is a dictatorship. How can we be a dictatorship if you tell us you want to lead in your area? You are the ones telling us who must lead in your area.”

He took aim at other political parties, particularly the Democratic Alliance (DA), over how they select their candidates. “In other parties, you will never risk that. They will make you write an exam. The DA will make you write exams like you did back at school again. You must write an exam. Here, the community tells us, ‘President, this is our mayoral candidate, this is our councillor, this is this.’ Where have you seen a party like that?”

In the 2024 general election, the Patriotic Alliance secured 2.06% of the national vote and nine seats in the National Assembly, a significant rise from the 0.4% it received in 2019. The party’s performance in several provinces, especially Gauteng and the Northern Cape, further confirmed its growing support base.

Turning to internal party issues, McKenzie criticised those who want to leave the PA due to being disliked by some members or residents.

“President, I want to leave because the people don’t like me here, do you know how many people don’t like me and how many people love me? Now everybody must like you? Because of one person, now you want to leave? Oh no, go. We can’t have that.”

“You will not be loved by all people,” he said. “All-around love doesn’t exist. Even at church, at work, at the party, some of you complain, ‘Oh no, President, these people don’t like me.’ Oh, you make me so tired. Of course, some people don’t like you. Some people don’t like me either. Do you think I am going to worry about what they say about me?”

He acknowledged that his past plays a role in public perception, but insisted that South Africans continue to show him support.

“I know why some people don’t like me. Do you know what some people don’t know? I can’t go anywhere in South Africa, ask the people that work with me, ask the people of DESEC, ask my protectors, ask the Patriots, wherever I go, people show me love.”

 McKenzie emphasised that true party members remain loyal through all circumstances. “Now you want to leave the PA? A real PA doesn’t leave, no matter what. Not everybody is going to love you.”

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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