Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Durban: eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni has left the National Freedom Party and been appointed interim President of the National People’s Ambassadors.
Myeni was officially unveiled on Thursday in Durban, announcing she is no longer part of the NFP, which she joined in 2011 after its founding by the late Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi.
“We are here now at the new home, which is the NPA. Our aim is to work for our people and plead with those who are no longer interested in voting to change their mind and vote for us to bring change in communities. We understand that there are people who complain that they have been voting but never see any change. I am calling on those people to vote for the NPA, which is the party that will put the needs of the people first,” Myeni said.
She takes over the party from its founder, Nathi Mthethwa, not related to the late South African Ambassador to France of the same name. Mthethwa was forced to give up leadership of the NPA last month after being appointed to the KZN Legislature for MKP in 2024. Despite being an MKP member, Mthethwa continued to lead the NPA until last month, when he was told to choose between the two.
The party also announced former Nongoma mayor, Jeremiah Mavundla, formerly of the NFP, as its newest member.
uMlalazi: The IFP says it is shocked and deeply angered by the murder of its Ward 17 councillor candidate in uMlalazi Local Municipality, Cllr Khethelo Mdluli, 40.
Mdluli, who had served as an IFP PR councillor since 2021, was shot in front of his children at his home in oPhindweni, Gingindlovu, on Thursday evening last week. He died of his injuries on Monday at Ngwelezane Hospital. The IFP condemned the killing in the strongest terms, saying there can be no justification for taking a human life, and no place in the country’s democracy for political violence, intimidation or the assassination of those who serve their communities.
Durban: A report into corruption in Metro Police recruitment has found that R420,000 allegedly changed hands, with members of the public scammed by a suspended employee who promised jobs that never materialised.
This was revealed by eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele this week. Mbhele confirmed the existence of two reports compiled by the city’s Integrity and Investigations Directorate, which examined alleged irregularities in Metro Police recruitment. The Nexus Report, completed in 2020, investigated two recruitment intakes from the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years, flagging four officers appointed irregularly; following legal processes, those appointments were later upheld. The second report, the Isiqu Report, investigated the 2023/24 recruitment intake and recommended disciplinary action against four officials, an Authorised Officer, two Human Capital officials and a Business Support employee.
Metro Police Commissioner Sbonelo Mchunu urged the public to be wary of scammers posing as officials and soliciting bribes with false promises of jobs within the Metro Police.
Pictured above: eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni addressing the media on Thursday as the newly appointed President of the NPA, after leaving the NFP.
Image source: Celani Sikhakhane
