Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Pietermaritzburg: The Pietermaritzburg High Court has instructed the Speaker of the KZN Legislature to remove NFP MEC for Social Development Mbali Shinga, to make way for party president Ivan Barnes as the new member of the House.
The ruling, made on Tuesday morning, follows the NFP’s National Working Committee taking its fight against Shinga to court, accusing Speaker Nontembeko Boyce of failing to enforce the party’s decision to replace Shinga with Barnes, a request first made in July.
“Directing the second respondent to give effect to the applicant’s letter dated 6 July 2026, addressed to the second respondent in terms of Section 106(3)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and to do all things necessary to declare vacant the seat held by the first respondent in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature,” the ruling read.
This marks the end of a legal battle stretching back to December last year, when Shinga was first expelled for refusing to support an MKP-sponsored motion of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli, voting instead with her Government of Provincial Unity colleagues. Since then, Shinga had repeatedly won interim protection from the same court, in December, on the grounds that the NFP’s national leadership lacked the authority to discipline her, and again in June, when the court ruled she remained an MPL pending a full review of her expulsion. The NFP holds the single seat that completes the Government of Provincial Unity’s majority in the province, making this dispute pivotal to the coalition’s stability.
The NFP has been fighting for Barnes to replace Shinga in a bid to help the MKP unseat the IFP-led Government of Provincial Unity, which includes the ANC, DA and NFP.
Pinetown: The criminal matter involving National Assembly member Fadiel Adams is set for a pre-trial conference on 16 October.
Adams faces three counts of fraud and two counts of defeating the administration of justice. Last Friday, the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court confirmed he remains out on bail, subject to conditions previously imposed by the court.
Ugu District: The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is warning communities of severe thunderstorms predicted across most of the province, which could lead to localised flooding.
The areas most at risk are mostly in Ugu District, on the KZN South Coast. On Tuesday, the South African Weather Service issued a Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours, strong winds and lightning, expected to begin around 10am and continue through the day across the southern and eastern parts of the province. The department warned the storms could cause localised flooding, damage to infrastructure and settlements, and road accidents due to slippery roads and poor visibility. KZN Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has activated the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, placing all municipalities on high alert.
Pictured above: KZN Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce ordered by the Pietermaritzburg High Court to remove Mbali Shinga from the Legislature.
Image source: KZN Legislature Speaker/Facebook Page
