Sihle Mavuso presents the latest news from KwaZulu-Natal.
Umkhanyakude – The former ANC speaker of Umkhanyakude municipality in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal has joined the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto Wesizwe party (MK). Solomon Nkambeni Msane was the speaker until June 2021 when the ANC decided to fire him for defiance. The party instructed him to resign following internal factional fighting but Msane took the fight to the party’s Luthuli House headquarters, where he also lost. Msane has hit the ground running and has joined several campaigns in the district, wooing locals to vote for MK on 29 May.
Hazelmere – The massive Shoprite distribution centre near Hazelmere dam in the north of Durban was closed down on Tuesday by protesting community members who want the ANC-run eThekwini municipality to restore their water services. The residents are also demanding the restoration of their electricity supply, which they last had on Saturday. Last night, the residents resolved to cordon off the nearby industrial area which houses the distribution centre in the hope that Shoprite will plead with the municipality on their behalf.
KwaMashu – The state-owned passenger rail services company, Prasa, has resumed its services between Durban and the township of KwaMashu. Prasa temporarily withdrew its new trains when hostel dwellers in the township stoned and damaged some rolling stock on Monday morning. The hostel dwellers were protesting over water shortages and electricity cuts. They also blocked Malandela Road, the main road in the township, the railway line and some internal roads. The trains started running again on Tuesday, bringing relief to commuters who were left stranded on Monday.
Greytown – The battle for the soul of the Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) is getting nasty. Mbuyiseni Majozi, the former councillor of the party in the Umvoti (Greytown) municipality in the KZN Midlands, challenged his axing in the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Majozi was axed by the faction led by Philani PG Mavundla, who is locked in a bitter feud with Bhungu Gwala over who is the rightful leader of the party.
Durban – The ANC mayor of eThekwini municipality has found himself caught in a war of words with leaders of SMAWU as the ongoing wildcat strike by some members of the union continues to cripple the city of Durban. In a meeting held earlier today at Lion Match business along Umngeni road, Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda told the leaders of the union that what is dangerous with their strike is that the striking employees have switched off water and power services. He said that is not expected from SAMWU, a union that is regarded as a progressive one and their conduct amounts to treason. The leaders of the union disputed that, saying they don’t even know who switched off the water and Kaunda responded by alleging that their workers are blocked from switching on the water. The meeting got heated when he told the union to call a press conference and inform the public that they had called off the strike. “I am not requesting you, I am telling you, there is no meeting… I am calling off this meeting,” Kaunda said, angering some of the SAMWU leaders in attendance.
Pictured above: The Shoprite distribution centre in Hazelmere that has been cordoned off by protesters.
Image source: Supplied
