Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Pietermaritzburg: KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has defended the Department of Education and the Department of Transport against accusations that they are the worst-performing departments in his government.
Ntuli was delivering the Office of the Premier’s budget vote on Tuesday afternoon at the KZN Legislature in Pietermaritzburg. He said accusations made by a member of the Legislature were unfounded, arguing that the Department of Education produced the country’s top matric results, while the Department of Transport is hard at work constructing roads across the province. His remarks come amid ongoing complaints from contractors over unpaid invoices from the Department of Transport.
UKZN: As the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s MBChB Class of 2006 marks 20 years since graduating, one alumnus is going the extra mile to help future doctors.
Specialist anaesthesiologist Dr Sizwe Zungu will take on the Washie 100 Miler, a 161km race in the Eastern Cape, this July, to raise R100,000 towards registration fees for financially deserving UKZN medical students. The initiative, facilitated by the UKZN Foundation, forms part of the class’s 20-year reunion celebrations. The Washie 100 Miler, widely regarded as the oldest 100-mile road race in Africa, runs from 31 July to 2 August, starting at Cathcart Country Club and finishing at Buffs Club in East London.
Pinetown: The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed an effective sentence of 30 years’ direct imprisonment handed down by the Pinetown Regional Court to Siphesihle Magwaza, 29, and Bukhosibakhe Ndledla, 32, following their conviction on multiple counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Between May and June 2024, the pair lured victims through Facebook Marketplace by posing as buyers or sellers of gaming consoles and computers. After arranging meetings in the Auckland area of Marianhill, they led victims to an abandoned building where accomplices were waiting, and robbed them at knifepoint and gunpoint. In some cases, the men accessed victims’ banking apps and transferred money from their accounts. Victims were forced to delete their conversations with the accused before being released. The case broke after a victim shared their location pin with police, leading to the pair’s arrest.
Pictured above: KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, who has defended the Department of Education and the Department of Transport against accusations of poor performance.
Image source: Office of the Premier
