Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Endumeni: Endumeni Municipality is set to be placed under provincial administration after councillors again failed to pass the 2026/27 budget at a council meeting on Thursday morning, the sixth such failure.
KZN Finance MEC Francois Rodgers had given the municipality, near Dundee in northern KwaZulu-Natal, until 31 July to approve a legally compliant and funded budget. The deadlock continued on the day, with councillors voting 7-6 against the proposed budget. Five ANC and two DA councillors rejected it, while five IFP councillors and one ABC councillor supported it.
Mayor Mcebo Mkhize had tabled a revised proposal aimed at addressing the municipality’s roughly R500-million Eskom debt, including a strict payment arrangement, a dedicated savings account targeting R10-million by the second year, and recovering R28-million in outstanding rates owed by government departments, to be ring-fenced for the Eskom debt. Mkhize said Rodgers had recommended appointing a financial specialist to tighten cost controls.
ANC councillor Sadeck Ameena said the Eskom debt was not the municipality’s only problem, and that the budget failed to address service delivery backlogs. “Our town is dark and potholed like a rural area,” she said. DA councillor Salem Abdool called the proposal a “camouflaged budget” that remained unfunded.
“Only 26% has been earmarked for service delivery when we asked for at least 38% to 40%. The budget is not aligned to service delivery and will bring no solace to our hard-pressed residents,” he said.
With the deadline now expired, the provincial government is expected to invoke its constitutional powers to place Endumeni under administration, meaning key financial and budgetary decisions would fall under provincial oversight. The MEC could consider dissolving the council altogether, though this is a lengthy process requiring a report and approval from the National Council of Provinces.
Nkandla: The community of Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal is turning to agriculture to fight unemployment.
On Friday, residents gathered for the opening of new Department of Agriculture offices, marking the end of long journeys to access agricultural assistance. KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said the offices will mean communal and community farmers no longer need to travel long distances for support, and that the development will help strengthen food security and support economic growth in the area.
eThekwini: The DA in eThekwini says it is demanding answers after disruptions to the city’s emergency lines.
Councillor Zoe Solomon said the disruption left residents without access to emergency assistance during fires this week, including a blaze that damaged a business in the Verulam CBD and a bush fire that threatened homes on the Bluff. “The DA is demanding answers and a timeline for the full restoration of the emergency line. Changes to emergency contact numbers must be communicated widely and effectively,” Solomon said, adding that the party will submit Section 27 questions over the disruption, calling it a matter that could place lives at risk.
Pictured above: Endumeni Local Municipality in Dundee, which faces provincial takeover after councillors failed to pass a funded budget for the sixth time.
Image source: Endumeni
