Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Zululand: Siphamandla Ntombela, Chief Whip of the National Freedom Party in Zululand District Municipality, has resigned from the party, accusing its president of being an illegitimate, politically bankrupt leader.
Ntombela released his resignation letter on Thursday afternoon, describing years of frustration within the party since 2023. “It’s worth noting that around 2023, there was a conference held in Durban where Barnes was elected under questionable circumstances. Unfortunately, after the conference, the approach practised by Barnes and his allies wasn’t about rebuilding at all, but destroying our beloved organisation. This illegitimate, politically bankrupt individual, masquerading as President of the National Freedom Party, has compared himself to VZ kaMagwaza-Msibi, and even removed her face from the organisation’s posters to replace it with his own,” Ntombela wrote.
The NFP’s Secretary General rejected the criticism, saying the party had long suspected Ntombela of working for a rival party while serving as Chief Whip.
Richard’s Bay: The Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court has sentenced 32-year-old Sanele Dube to life imprisonment following his conviction on multiple counts of rape, murder and theft.
Between 2016 and 2020, Dube targeted women and girls in the Hlomendlini, Mzingazi, Jozini and KwaMbonambi areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal. The complainants, aged between 13 and 27, were unknown to him. Most victims were attacked in their homes and, in some cases, robbed of their cellphones. One victim, a minor, was accosted on her way to school and never returned home; her body was discovered days later, and investigators found she had been raped and murdered. DNA evidence collected at the scene was submitted to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis, leading to his conviction.
King Dinizulu Hospital: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has appointed an investigator to conduct a full inquiry into the assault of a patient at King Dinuzulu Hospital in Durban, after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The department has served a formal letter of precautionary suspension on the nurse implicated in the video, which shows her poking and striking a patient in the face while making inappropriate remarks. “This suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place pending the finalisation of the disciplinary process. The investigator has been tasked with expediting this process to ensure a swift resolution. In parallel with the internal process, we can confirm that the patient has been assessed by a clinical psychologist and is in a stable emotional and mental state,” the department said.
Pictured above: NFP Chief Whip Siphamandla Ntombela, who has resigned from the party, accusing president Ivan Barnes of failing the organisation.
Image source: TikTok
