Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
uMngeni: The DA is set to announce Chris Pappas as its mayoral candidate for uMngeni Local Municipality in the KZN Midlands, with the popular mayor expected to be returned for a second term.
Pappas indicated his intention to stand again in March ahead of the DA’s Provincial Elective Conference, saying he would not contest any party positions as his focus remains on uMngeni, where he has served as mayor since the 2021 local government elections. He had been a DA Premier candidate in 2024 but withdrew his candidacy after Jacob Zuma emerged with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. The DA will make the official announcement for uMngeni next week, having already announced their mayoral candidates for eThekwini and uMhlathuze earlier this year.
Durban: The Durban High Court has sentenced Fatima Bibi Patel (36), Sayefudeen Aslam Del Vecchio (46) and Musa Jackson (43) to life imprisonment plus 23 years following their convictions for kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft and two counts of murder. Del Vecchio received an additional five years for malicious injury to property.
The convictions relate to the kidnapping and murder of renowned botanists Dr Rodney Saunders (73) and Dr Rachel Saunders (64) between 8 and 14 February 2018 in the Ngoye Forest, Zululand. Saunders, who held dual South African and British citizenship, had been filming a BBC documentary in the Drakensberg before travelling to the forest. In a separate matter, Del Vecchio was also convicted for setting fire to three Tongaat Hulett farms between Sibaya Casino and Umdloti in September 2017 after the company refused him entry to its properties, causing damage to sugarcane crops over approximately 20 kilometres and losses estimated at R2.3 million.
Ladysmith: KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has placed disaster management teams on high alert following two critical weather warnings from the South African Weather Service. The volatile conditions affect the KZN interior, extreme southern parts and the northern interior, impacting municipalities including Alfred Duma, Abaqulusi, Nongoma, Nquthu, Newcastle, Ulundi, Okhahlamba and several others across the province.
Pictured above: The only DA Mayor in KZN, Chris Pappas of uMngeni Local Municipality, is set to be announced by his party for a second term.
Image source: KZN DA
