Sihle Mavuso presents the latest news from KwaZulu-Natal.
Pietermaritzburg – Unemployed nurses in KwaZulu-Natal have announced a sit-in at the provincial headquarters of the health department on 20 May. The nurses say the department, led by MEC Nomagugu Simelane, “has been spreading false hope to the youth of South Africa” by making them study in government nursing colleges and later dumping them without being absorbed by state hospitals. According to the group behind the mooted sit-in, more than 500 unemployed nurses are languishing at home. Their sit-in comes after unemployed doctors staged a demonstration at the same offices last month.
Ilembe – A former EFF councillor in the Ilembe municipality has not given up on forcing the Red party to cough up money he claims he is owed. Ndumiso Vilakazi, who served until November 2021, is among former councillors claiming that the party charged a higher levy than required. In a letter of demand signed off by the sheriff of lower Uthukela dated 25 April 2024, Vilakazi demands a refund of R20,000. The EFF in the province said the regional offices do not know about the matter as levy issues are handled at the national level.
Newcastle – Team Sugar South Africa, the key coalition partner of the IFP in the Newcastle municipality, has fired the three councillors who helped to oust its president, Musa Thwala, as deputy mayor last month. Andile Nkosi, Sizwe Ngcobo and Nondumiso Masondo were tired. This follows an attempt to appeal the decision of the party’s disciplinary committee, which sacked them for the transgression. Thwala was ousted with their help after a fallout with the IFP, and it was alleged that he would form an alliance with the ANC, which lost the municipality in November 2021.
Ulundi – Sandile Khomo, the municipal manager of the Ulundi local municipality, has recused himself from the panel that will interview candidates for the director of community services. This is after Scrolla.Africa reported that Zamangwane Khomo, his wife, was shortlisted and the municipal manager would be conflicted. According to the letter seen by Scrolla.Africa, only two members of the panel remain now – Mayor Wilson Ntshangase and Nkosenye Zulu, the city manager of Umhlathuze, who comes in as an external expert.
Mposa – The hitmen who killed a man and kidnapped his wife in KwaMbonambi on Friday last week have been arrested. The three suspects were arrested in Umlazi in Durban and Highflats, in the south of the province. They were found with firearms, ammunition and the car which was used during the killing and kidnapping offences.
Pictured above: The poster announcing a sit-in by unemployed nurses.
Image source: Supplied
