Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news bites.
Newcastle: The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal snubbed the South African Communist Party from delivering a message of condolence at the memorial service of the late former provincial treasurer, held as part of the Alliance.
The service was held in Newcastle, northern KZN, on Thursday, where hundreds of mourners gathered to remember Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, who died on Saturday after being hit by a car while jogging. Only ANC and Cosatu leaders were allowed to deliver messages of support, which is not standard practice at ANC gatherings. This follows the SACP in KZN intensifying its campaign to contest the upcoming local government elections outside of the ANC, including circulating campaign posters featuring Chris Hani, Stalin Mtshali and other late SACP leaders.
ANC Gauteng provincial convenor Panyaza Lesufi warned mourners that a faction may win, but the ANC will be gone, calling on members and leaders to unite and stand with the ANC in the spirit of Mahlaba. Mahlaba will be laid to rest on Saturday at his home in Nquthu.
Vryheid: The Vryheid Regional Court has sentenced a 33-year-old man to 30 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape of a nine-year-old girl in the Hlobane area in May 2021.
The accused and the complainant knew each other, living in the same community. On 18 May 2021, the accused had his hair cut at the complainant’s homestead. When he left, he left the cut hair behind, and the complainant’s mother instructed the child to collect it and take it to his home. When she arrived, he raped her, then falsely told her that her mother had instructed him to do so, and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. When she returned home, her mother noticed she had taken long and asked why; the child then disclosed what had happened. The matter was reported to police and the child was taken for medical treatment. The accused was later arrested after returning to the family’s home for an unrelated matter, when the mother delayed him there until police arrived.
Impendle: KZN Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi briefed Parliament’s Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration during an urgent oversight visit to Impendle Local Municipality on Friday.
The visit follows the KZN Provincial Executive Council’s decision to invoke Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution, placing the municipality under administration over a collapse in financial management and governance. Buthelezi said internal controls had completely depleted the municipality’s coffers, leaving it unable to pay councillors and staff on time. A forensic trail found that portions of a R43.5-million conditional grant, earmarked for water, roads and electricity infrastructure, were instead diverted to cover operational costs and administrative salaries. As a result, National Treasury has temporarily withheld Impendle’s July 2026 equitable share allocation. Buthelezi also condemned the municipality’s failure to pay over employee deductions, including SARS, medical aid, pension fund and UIF contributions, to the relevant statutory bodies for months.
Pictured above: ANC Gauteng provincial convenor Panyaza Lesufi and KZN ANC head of elections Sizophila Mkhize arriving at the memorial service of the late Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba in Newcastle on Thursday.
Image source: X
