Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
uMfolozi: KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has raised concern over the growing number of illegal liquor outlets in villages near Richards Bay, in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Ntuli was speaking at a Crime Combating Imbizo on Wednesday, held at Mzingazi Sports Field. He said unregistered liquor outlets in Mzingazi and Nzalabantu Reserve are believed to be contributing to rising crime, including gender-based violence, femicide, assault and house robberies. Ntuli met with community safety structures, civil society, amakhosi and law enforcement, and welcomed more than 300 newly recruited and trained crime prevention volunteers from uMfolozi Local Municipality.
Impendle: The troubled, ANC-led Impendle Municipality in the KZN midlands has suffered another setback after the National Treasury withheld its equitable share for July, along with other municipalities across the country.
Impendle, already under administration by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, will not receive its equitable share for the 2026/27 financial year, which began on 1 July. National Treasury said the municipality has persistently failed to comply with financial management requirements. It is one of seven KwaZulu-Natal municipalities affected, alongside uMzinyathi District Municipality, Newcastle, eMadlangeni, Amajuba District Municipality, AbaQulusi and uMkhanyakude District Municipality.
eThekwini: The Democratic Alliance in eThekwini has welcomed the eThekwini Municipality’s decision to commit to corrective action following serious irregularities in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
The commitment follows an ultimatum from Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson, who said EPWP grant funding would be withheld until a full audit was conducted and specific corrective measures implemented. DA eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen said the intervention has worked, and that a report tabled at a council meeting confirms the municipality has begun implementing the required corrective measures.
Pictured above: KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, who has blamed the rise in crime and gender-based violence in the province partly on illegal liquor outlets.
Image source: KZN Office of the Premier
