Partners in crime? Inside Gayton and Kenny Kunene's lucrative businesses
The friends and business partners have come a long way after meeting at a Bloemfontein prison more than two decades ago.
In 1997, Kenny Kunene – a qualified teacher – was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and spent six years at the Grootvlei prison in Bloemfontein. During this time, he befriended Gayton McKenzie, who was serving time for armed robbery.
The duo began hustling from behind bars by smuggling cash and food.
Gayton and Kenny reunited after their release and vowed to go into business together. They initially sold the former's motivational book, The Choice , to schools around the country.
Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene's rise from rags to riches has largely been due to their ability to start and sell successful businesses for a profit.
The duo was mentored by businessmen Greg James and Gavin Varejes, and soon, they started their mining business, Central Rand Gold. Their mining business extended to other African countries.
The duo co-founded ZAR Empire Holdings, which had dealings in entertainment, property, and mining.
The company established the publishing group, X-Concepts, which is behind Gayton's multiple memoirs, including The Hustler's Bible.
They founded the ZAR nightclub franchise, a hotspot for many celebrities in the early 2000s. The pals also founded Rivonia On Deck, another popular entertainment venue.
For those who don't know: Kenny Kunene, a convicted criminal in his own right, is Gayton McKenzie's right-hand man and long time partner in 'business' and politics. pic.twitter.com/lgsk1aUocK — A Political Economist (@politicaleconZA) July 23, 2025
According to Kenny Kunene, Gayton and himself also sold fish and chicken from their car boots, marketed tickets to motivational talks to corporate companies, and also became security advisors to other businesses and the public.
'I went from sleeping on the floor to sleeping on the top floor of fancy hotels. I did it all!', Kenny said in his reality TV show, So What: Big Money, Big Dreams.
In 2013, Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene cofounded the Patriotic Alliance. The political party was multiracial but particularly focused on serving the interests of the country's coloured communities.
At the time, Gayton had 'poached' Kenny from the Economic Freedom Front (EFF), which he was a member of.
He told Mail & Guardian at the time: 'I don't want to become a member of Parliament, nor does Kenny… want to work with the people on the ground.'
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