Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Pongola: The Democratic Alliance in uPhongola Local Municipality, north of KZN, teamed up with the ANC against the IFP to elect the Speaker. They defeated the IFP with 18 votes while the IFP only received 10 votes during the council voting process on Thursday. The DA says they voted against the IFP candidate and the decision was taken on principle and in the interests of accountable governance. They claim that the IFP has repeatedly failed to engage meaningfully with the DA on matters affecting the municipality, including governance, budgets and service delivery.
Durban: KZN Premier Thami Ntuli has strongly discouraged any form of vigilantism and violence in tackling the issue of illegal immigrants in the province. He emphasised the need for various stakeholders to work together to ease fears and discuss these matters in a peaceful manner. “Before these matters came to a boiling point, I launched a campaign called #EngangeniNgesangoIyafohla, in an effort to discourage illegal immigration. I even visited various factories in Mandeni, Newcastle and Durban, which yielded positive results as illegal immigrants who worked in those factories were deported and employers who hired them were arrested,” said Premier Ntuli.
Umzinto: The Scottburgh Regional Court has sentenced Mfundo Mkhize, 19, and Sandile Mqadi, 27, following their conviction on two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Mkhize was also convicted on two counts of attempted robbery. The offences were committed in 2024. On 9 and 10 March 2024, the accused entered two homes in the Umzinto area while armed and robbed the complainants of personal belongings, household appliances and cellphones before fleeing the scenes. Mkhize was sentenced to 15 years in prison on each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years on each count of attempted robbery. The court ordered portions of the sentences to run at the same time, resulting in an effective sentence of 20 years in prison. Mqadi was sentenced to 15 years in prison on each count of robbery with aggravating circumstances. The sentences were ordered to run at the same time, resulting in an effective sentence of 15 years in prison.
Pictured above: The newly appointed speaker of the uPhongolo Municipality Celiwe Nxumalo-Sibiya.
Image source: uPhongolo Local Municipality
