Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news
uMsinga: Maskandi fans travelling from Gauteng and the Free State will get cheaper taxi rides to KwaZulu-Natal to say their final goodbye to Scebi Dlamini.
The award winning Maskandi musician, popularly known as Inkosi yamaGcokama, will be laid to rest in uMsinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Saturday.
His funeral will take place at Mzisho Stadium in Machunwini village.
Taxi associations have now stepped in to make the long journey cheaper for grieving fans who want to attend.
Godole Mdletshe from the taxi industry said operators in Gauteng had decided to help fans by offering transport at a reduced price.
Fans travelling from Gauteng will pay R350 for a return journey.
Taxi associations in the Free State have also joined the effort.
Fans travelling from Bloemfontein will pay R650 for a return trip to the funeral.
The cheaper fares are expected to help more supporters make the journey to uMsinga as the Maskandi community prepares for an emotional weekend.
Dlamini died following a car crash in Richards Bay.
His death shocked the Maskandi music industry and sparked tributes from fans, musicians and supporters.
His backup singer Sipho Gumu “Gupta” Mchunu also died following the crash.
Mchunu will be buried on Friday, a day before Dlamini’s funeral.
The two deaths have left fans mourning members of the same music team within days of each other.
The taxi industry’s reduced fares are the latest show of support for the grieving Maskandi community.
Fans are now expected to travel from different provinces to attend Dlamini’s funeral and pay their last respects to the musician.
uMngeni: Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has told party councillors that KwaZulu-Natal needs municipalities that work.
Hill-Lewis was speaking in Howick on Wednesday during campaigning involving uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas.
Pappas is seeking another term in the local government elections.
Hill-Lewis said voters should look beyond political promises and focus on whether municipalities can deliver reliable services, protect public money and create opportunities.
“As KwaZulu-Natal prepares for the local government elections, the choice before communities is about more than political promises,” he said.
“It is about whether municipalities will have the leadership, accountability and determination required to deliver.”
eThekwini: The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has welcomed new figures showing it recorded the lowest official unemployment rate among South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities.
According to the Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2026, eThekwini’s unemployment rate was 21.2% between April and June.
Cape Town recorded 21.9%, while the national unemployment rate stood at 33.6%.
The city said eThekwini’s rate had fallen by 5.6 percentage points from 26.8% during the same period in 2025.
Mayor Cyril Xaba said the figures reflected continued efforts to improve and stabilise the city’s investment environment.
Pictured above: Award winning Maskandi star Scebi Dlamini, popularly known as Inkosi yamaGcokama, whose funeral will take place at Mzisho Stadium in uMsinga on Saturday.
Image source: Instagram.
