Sihle Mavuso presents the latest news from KwaZulu-Natal.
Greytown – The millionaire mayor of Umvoti local municipality has denied allegations that he took part in a meeting on a farm in Greytown in January this year where a plan to fundraise for the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party was allegedly hatched. Philani “PG” Mavundla was reacting after Scrolla.Africa asked him about a document in which it is alleged that he met with former president Jacob Zuma and others to decide that a certain company be awarded a tender and paid in advance, so the funds could be channelled to the ANC-splinter party. Mavundla said that he has not been doing business for years now.
Pietermaritzburg – The KwaZulu-Natal National School Nutrition Programme business forum hopes that the new MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, will work with service providers under it to find a solution to the standoff over the menu and the pricing of the food they supply to schools. The forum added that the payment rates need to be adjusted as they are lower than those of other provinces and are not market-related. This has put a strain on its members’ ability to deliver accordingly.
Nongoma – Buhle Khumalo, an actor born in Nongoma and living with a disability, has won the Best Actress award in the international category of the Africa USA International Film Awards in California. Khumalo is the leading actor in a film titled Zipped and has been living with a disability since she was two. She is the first black female living with a disability to win the award. In another accolade, Khumalo also participated in the festival’s fashion show and was dressed by Abiola, the designer who once dressed Michelle Obama and Beyoncé.
Ladysmith – The mayor of Alfred Duma local municipality in Ladysmith has asked members of the public to help the police hunt down and catch the group of gunmen that shot and killed nine members of a family from Thusi returning home from a ceremony. Mayor Zama Sibisi condemned the senseless killing and called on the people to swiftly apprehend the killers. The family members were killed on Monday night on Helpmeekar Road when the gunmen pounced on their van and killed four adults, two children and three teenagers.
Pietermaritzburg – The speaker of the KZN Legislature has hailed Lukas Meyer’s appointment as the MEC for public works and infrastructure. Nontembeko Boyce says Meyer’s appointment as a prominent LGBTQIA+ community activist is a practical commitment to embracing and welcoming all vulnerable groups in society. She added that it signals a new beginning of unity and inclusivity for the people of the province.
Pictured above: Philani ‘PG’ Mavundla says he never raised funds for the MK Party.
Source: Sihle Mavuso
