Before he was infamously known as the flashy Sushi King or as the outspoken Patriotic Alliance deputy president, Kenny Kunene was a high school teacher who dabbled in criminal activity.
The 54-year-old served time in Grootvlei prison in Bloemfontein for several years.
After being released from prison, he co-founded several lucrative businesses with his pal, Gayton McKenzie.
Kunene has made headlines after he was found at the home of notorious businessman KT Katiso Molefe, who was arrested as the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Oupa John Sefoka, also known as DJ Sumbody.
INSIDE KENNY KUNENE’S CRIMINAL PAST
In 1997, Kenny Kunene – a qualified teacher – was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and spent six years at the Grootvlei prison in Bloemfontein.
Before his imprisonment, he sold alcohol in an illegal shebeen after hours. Kunene claimed he was part of a violent gang that performed armed robberies.
Speaking to Sunday Times in 2010, Kunene revealed he once tried to sell ivory illegally in Pretoria and was shot at by police in a hail of bullets.
He said: “We used to get involved in fraud, car theft, robberies. Now, when we do our talks to kids and schools, we say, ‘When we were criminals, we couldn’t enjoy our cars, we couldn’t drive them in the daylight.’”
Images via gayton.mckenzie.blogspot
Later, Kenny and prison pal Gayton McKenzie co-founded their mining, publishing, and entertainment empire, which boasted several multi-million-dollar businesses, including the infamous ZAR nightclub franchise.
Kenny Kunene ran into another legal spat when he “unknowingly” registered himself as a director of several high-profile businesses. This contravened the SA Companies Act, which states that convicted fraudsters may not be directors of companies.
He said: “I didn’t know that was the rule. When I read this thing about [Tony] Yengeni, I started resigning all my directorships.”
In 2011, Kunene and McKenzie’s mining company, Central Rand Gold, was probed for fraud over allegations it used its political connections to swiftly secure mining rights. In the years that followed, the company has also been accused of misleading investors with empty promises and using employee pensions to stay afloat.
GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION?
According to Kenny Kunene he was at the “wrong place, wrong time” after he was found at the Johannesburg mansion of Katiso “TK” Molefe
“I have done nothing. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, for the right reasons,” Kunene told the Mail & Guardian.
Kunene claims he was accompanying a journalist to Molefe’s house to conduct an exclusive interview for his online publication, African News Global.
He said: “I spoke to my contacts who know this guy. He agreed to the interview to tell his side of the story. I was then told to bring the journalist because they felt comfortable with my presence.
“As we drove in — before entering the house — and while greeting the person who had connected us to him, the police kicked the gate to come in.”
DO YOU THINK KENNY KUNENE’S CRIMINAL PAST HAS TAINTED HIS REPUTATION?
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