Patriotic Alliance leader and Member of Parliament Gayton McKenzie has made his latest financial disclosures public through the June 2025 Register of Members’ Interests, revealing a detailed account of his assets, former business involvements, and recent gifts received from international entities.
According to the register, McKenzie has “nothing to disclose” under the categories of shares and other financial interests, remunerated work outside Parliament, consultancies, sponsorships, free loans, travel, pensions, income-generating assets, rented property, and trusts.
This suggests that McKenzie currently draws no outside income beyond his parliamentary remuneration and holds no active shares or formal business roles that generate income.
However, a significant portion of the declaration is dedicated to listing McKenzie’s former directorships and partnerships, the vast majority of which are now de-registered.
These companies include Amatenda 523, Lexshell 138, Raystar Productions, Gas Afrique, Afrobrew Beverages, G Gas, Dirbyn Utilities, Gayton McKenzie, African Australian Minerals and Energy, Dirbyn Investment Holdings, Dartingo Trading 213, Taboo Trading 189, Megafone Telecoms, Halowiz Investments, Zar Productions, Dream Weaver Trading 445, Dirbyn Publications, Gayton McKenzie Distributions, Tobiwill, Talirex, Nso What Trading, Nu Money Records, Black Solar, Damash Minerals, Portkey SA, Hustlers Empire, and Science Fixing. These companies spanned diverse sectors such as general trading, film and television, mining and exploration, investments, microbrewery, ICT, logistics, and health and wellness.
Although all these companies are noted as de-registered, the register highlights the extent of McKenzie’s historical involvement in entrepreneurship and business.
For example, his business interests once covered industries from media and entertainment, like Raystar Productions and Zar Productions, to mining consultancies such as Science Fixing, and from investments with Halowiz Investments to beverage production through Afrobrew Beverages.
Despite not actively holding any business roles at present, McKenzie received several high-value gifts.
Notably, he was given an Honor Magic V2 device valued at R37,999.00 from Honor Device Co. Ltd of Shenzhen, China.
He also received a teacup and saucer worth R6,093.00 from the Russian Cultural Ministry, and a framed artwork containing 99.9% foiled gold, which is still to be appraised, from the Indian Cultural Ministry in Brazil.
McKenzie’s only disclosed immovable asset is a residential property in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, situated in the Western Cape. The property measures 1,487 square meters and is the only real estate asset listed in his name in the register.
The transparency shown in this declaration comes against the backdrop of McKenzie’s well-documented remarks about his wealth.
Mckenzie has frequently addressed his financial independence in public forums and media interviews, often asserting that he is one of the few politicians who “doesn’t need government money” and can “afford to speak freely because I’m not reliant on tenders.”
In April 2023, McKenzie publicly addressed rumours about external funding for his party, stating, “I have my own money,” according to Timeslive.
Furthermore, in his resignation letter as mayor of the Central Karoo Municipality in 2023, McKenzie stressed his commitment to self-funding his political roles.
“I never had to use a cent from this municipality throughout my term. I took no salary and no perks whatsoever. I paid for my own bodyguards, travel and accommodation at all times. I donated my salary to the community.”
McKenzie has also publicly declared that he is not in politics for money, but to make a difference in people’s lives.
“One hundred per cent of my salary I’m giving it to the Joshlin Smith Foundation for missing children for the duration of my stay in Parliament, 100% of my salary not 80% or 50%… Because I’m not here for money, I’m here to change the lives of our people.”
In March 2025, McKenzie announced he would put up a R1 million reward for the safe return of missing six-year-old Saldanha Bay girl Joshlin Smith.
“This child has become the conscience of our nation. This is a rainbow child. I am taking R1 million of my own money that I could have put into my political campaign. I will have a million rand less for posters, I will have a million rand less for t-shirts, I will have a million rand less of diesel for my campaign but for me, what is bigger than politics is finding that green-eyed girl,” he said at the time.
McKenzie has also demonstrated personal generosity outside of politics, offering direct help to struggling individuals. In one instance, he assured actress Nandi Nyembe, “This is not the ministry, this is with my heart, this is from me, mama.”
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