Before making headlines as Joburg’s acting executive mayor, cracking down on undocumented migrants, Kenny Kunene was once dubbed the “Sushi King” who ate food off the naked bodies of beautiful models.

He was also known as a convicted fraudster who befriended now Minister Gayton McKenzie in prison, where they later founded the Patriotic Alliance.

Kenny has also lived a flashy lifestyle, been the star of his own reality TV show, and run a series of businesses and side hustles.

But, what qualifications does the man helming Johannesburg have?

KENNY KUNENE CRACKS THE WHIP AS JOBURG DEPUTY MAYOR
In recent weeks, Kenny Kunene has had his hands full with being the acting executive mayor of Joburg.

He has spent his time raiding derelict buildings, targeting illegal water and electricity connections in the city, as well as assisting in the arrests of undocumented migrants.

As per the Patriotic Alliance’s mandate on illegal foreigners, Kenny told reporters this week: “We are putting them in vans so they can go to Lindela [Repatriation Centre] and go back to their countries

He added: “We are cleaning Johannesburg…we are dealing with tsotsis, we will run [after them”.

QUALIFICATIONS, BUSINESSES

Kenny Kunene graduated from Vista University, now the Central University of Technology, with a degree in education.

He worked as an English and history teacher at a Klerskdorp school.

During this time, he engaged in criminal activities including robbery and fraud. In 1997, he was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and spent six years at a Bloemfontein prison, where he befriended Patriotic Alliance leader, Gayton McKenzie.

After their release, the reformed criminals went into business together, co-founding popular Johannesburg nightclub ZAR, which closed in 2013.

The duo also co-owned Central Rand Gold Mine, which shit down in 2011.

Apart from becoming the Patriotic Alliance deputy-president, the man dubbed the “Sushi King” also had several other side hustles, including:

• Founding music label New Money Records.
• Founding Kusema Media Group, which produced news platforms, Weekly Xposé, and AfricaNews 24-7, later remanded Africa News Global.
• Creator of e-hailing app Yookoo Rides
• Working as a “marketing and PR consultant”, as well as a part-time DJ.
• Being the star of e.tv reality TV show, So What: Big Money, Big Dreams