Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Durban: The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has described the first clean audit received by the once chaotic Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as a major milestone, after years of failing to account for public spending.
The clean audit follows the department taking a strong stance against construction mafias and corruption that had been costing taxpayers without accountability. Officials faced death threats over their stance, including bullet casings found on a state vehicle and left at the doorstep of department offices.
The department has previously faced serious corruption problems, including senior officials irregularly appointing service providers, costing taxpayers millions of rand, and construction mafias disrupting sites and illegally occupying government buildings across the province.
On Monday, DA leadership in the province said the turnaround came since Martin Meyer took over as MEC for the department and Dr Vish Govender was appointed Head of Department. Meyer credited the milestone to strict financial controls, tighter supply chain management and administrative reforms led by Govender. While the Auditor-General commended the department’s internal controls, it noted that payments to contractors remain an area requiring further improvement.
Madadeni: The Madadeni Regional Court has sentenced Thabiso Mokoena and Zama Mhlanga to life imprisonment for kidnapping, murder and defeating the administration of justice, in connection with the death of Musawenkosi Sithole in Osizweni in November 2022.
Their co-accused, Bandile Radebe and Sanele Hlatshwayo, were convicted of kidnapping and attempted murder and sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment.
The court heard that on 7 November 2022, Sithole was at a house with friends when the four accused arrived. Mokoena suspected Sithole of stealing rims from his vehicle. After interrogating him, the group forced Sithole into Mokoena’s bakkie, tied him up with rope and drove him to a bridge in an industrial area in Madadeni, where the assault continued. Sithole was kicked, beaten with sticks and gagged with a sock. Mhlanga then repeatedly struck him on the head with a stone. Once Sithole became motionless, Mokoena and Mhlanga threw him into a river.
Dundee: KZN Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has invoked Section 154 of the Constitution to deploy a technical expert to Endumeni Local Municipality in Dundee, northern KZN, after the municipality repeatedly failed to adopt its 2026/27 budget.
Governance specialist Thando Manda has been appointed to provide direct technical support and help resolve the institutional challenges that stalled the budget process. The intervention follows Endumeni missing its statutory 30 June deadline and a subsequent extended deadline of 31 July, after which the municipality faced the risk of dissolution and provincial administration under Section 139(4) of the Constitution. Cogta’s latest intervention is aimed at stabilising operations and maintaining service delivery before that more drastic step becomes necessary. Manda will work alongside Mayor Cllr Mcebo Mkhize, the municipal manager and the full council, submitting weekly progress reports to the MEC.
Pictured above: KZN MEC for Public Works Martin Meyer and HOD Dr Vish Govender, who received a clean audit for the first time after taking on corruption and construction mafias that had cost taxpayers without accountability.
Image source: Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
