Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Pomeroy: The community of Pomeroy, a small rural town near uMsinga in northern KwaZulu-Natal, was left shaken after a fire broke out at a shop on Wednesday morning, sending thick smoke over the town.
At the time of publication, the cause of the fire was not yet clear. The situation was brought under control by fire crews deployed by the uMzinyathi District Municipality. KZN Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi confirmed that the uMzinyathi District Disaster and Rescue team had been fully activated, with additional support units from uMvoti and eNdumeni Local Municipalities deployed to reinforce the response.
KwaDukuza: The case against members of the so-called Guardrail Mafia, accused of stealing road infrastructure across northern KwaZulu-Natal, has been postponed to 23 September for a bail application.
KZN MEC for Human Settlements and Transport Siboniso Duma said he is encouraged by the progress made in dismantling the syndicate, which has been linked to the theft of guardrails worth hundreds of millions of rand from the province’s road network. Duma said the department’s specialised security team, SAPS detectives, the Organised Crime Unit and a prosecutor assigned by the NPA will use the coming weeks to close any legal gaps ahead of prosecution.
Mtubatuba: The Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court has sentenced 25-year-old Kwazi Cebo Sithole to life imprisonment for the murder of a young woman in Hluhluwe.
The woman was murdered in July last year. Sithole and the deceased had previously been in a relationship, which had ended before the incident. On the evening of 26 July 2025, the deceased was walking with a friend when they encountered Sithole. Startled, the two women ran, but Sithole gave chase and tripped the deceased, causing her to fall. He then strangled her, pushing her friend away when she tried to intervene. The friend ran for help, but by the time she returned with others, neither Sithole nor the deceased could be found. While searching, they saw Sithole emerging from a nearby bushy area; when asked where the woman was, he insulted them and walked off.
The deceased’s body was later found in the same area. The matter was reported to police, and Sithole was arrested at his home.
Pictured above: A shop destroyed by fire in Pomeroy on Wednesday morning.
Image source: Video screenshot (Cogta)
