Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Scottburgh: A speeding and reckless lawyer has been convicted and sentenced to 24 months in prison or a fine of R40,000. Monde Nzima has earned a permanent criminal record after being convicted by the Scottburgh Magistrate Court. KZN Transport Minister Siboniso Duma says he is hopeful that the Legal Practice Council will not turn a blind eye but will show a public display on Nzima. “We welcome the conviction and sentencing of a speeding and reckless lawyer, Monde Nzima, by the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court. On 3 August 2025, we issued a statement commending our energized and highly efficient team from Road Traffic Inspectorate in Park Rynie. This followed the swift arrest of the 32-year-old lawyer from Mthatha. He was caught at 08:08 on 2 August during a routine speed enforcement operation along the N2,” Duma said. Nzima was driving a blue Mercedes-Benz C200, clocking a staggering 222km/h in a 120km/h zone. He failed to stop and the RTI team chased after him and he was caught. He was sentenced to an R40,000 fine or 24 months in prison, half of which was suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period.
Vryheid: The commitment and diligent investigative efforts of a dedicated Vryheid Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences detective Constable Menzi Xaba have yielded positive results following the sentencing of Zenzele Derrick Thwala, 32, to two life imprisonment terms for rape and attempted rape, as well as five years for kidnapping. The Nqutu Regional Court handed down the sentence on Thursday after thorough investigation that ensured Thwala was brought to justice. Two siblings, aged 17 and 19 years old, were on their way home on 1 March 2023 when they came across an unknown man and he demanded their cellphones. The older sibling managed to run away while the younger one was caught by the suspect. He dragged her to an open field where he attempted to rape her but was distracted. He forced the young lady to a nearby homestead where he raped her until the next morning. She managed to escape through a window while the rapist was out. Thwala was arrested and made several court appearances before being sentenced.
Durban: The Inquest court sitting at the Durban Magistrates’ Court has found that the then apartheid era South African Police and Askaris were responsible for the death of Velemseni Mthunzi Njakazi. Njakazi was an ANC and Umkhonto Wesizwe member who was killed by members of the Natal Security Branch on 28 January 1991. Tjaart Van der Walt Fourie and Johannes Hendrik Cloete applied for amnesty for all offences directly connected to the shooting incident which resulted in Njakazi’s death. They were granted amnesty. In 2021, the Director of Public Prosecutions Office in KwaZulu-Natal received this matter for further investigation to determine whether there were any other persons other than those who had been granted amnesty who could be held criminally liable for the death of Mr Njakazi. The investigations culminated in a decision to prosecute one of the Askaris who was linked to the commission of the offence and had not received any amnesty for the killing of Njakazi. Unfortunately, Ninela died before the commencement of his trial. Due to this, the NPA had to remove the matter from the roll.
Pictured above: Eastern Cape lawyer Monde Nzima was fined R40,000 by KZN Magistrate in Scottburgh near Port Shepstone.
Image source: Supplied
