Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.
Hluhluwe: Personal staff of the Zulu King survived a horrific car accident on the N2 on Tuesday afternoon while driving to eMashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Those in the vehicle included the King’s praise singer, his chef, Private Office Chief Director Nododile Ndamase, and a bodyguard. According to emergency services, the royal vehicle lost control while trying to avoid a head-on collision with a truck, and the car veered off the road, narrowly avoiding rolling into the Hluhluwe River after being stopped by a tree.
The staff were part of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s entourage, returning from a meeting in Johannesburg. After landing at King Shaka International Airport, they had been travelling with the King, but stopped at a filling station in Hluhluwe to refuel, causing them to fall behind the King’s convoy as it continued on to the palace.
“They then drove back to the N2, trying to catch up with the King’s convoy. When the driver tried to overtake, they were faced with an oncoming truck. They managed to avoid the danger, but their car lost control and almost rolled into the river alongside the N2 in Hluhluwe. Fortunately, they were stopped by a tree, which damaged the vehicle, but the occupants were taken for medical attention, with some sustaining serious injuries,” said an emergency official who asked not to be named.
Ndamase confirmed the accident but declined to share further details.
Durban: The Durban Regional Court has sentenced a 41-year-old man to 25 years’ direct imprisonment for the rape and attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, in an incident that occurred in August 2025 in the Shongweni Dam area.
The accused and the complainant had ended their relationship before the incident, but he continued pursuing her to reconcile. She refused and eventually reported this to her family, after which he relocated and she did not see him again. On 17 August 2025, the complainant saw the accused while socialising with friends at a local venue. She avoided him and left for home; he followed her and again begged her to reconcile, which she refused. He then stabbed her in the back and under her left arm, causing her to bleed profusely.
Ingwavuma: The R359-million construction of Mosvold Hospital in Nkungwini village, Ingwavuma, has been described as a major investment in rural healthcare.
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane visited the construction site to inspect progress on the project, which is currently around 63% complete and expected to be finished within a year. The upgrade includes a 40-unit staff accommodation block for healthcare professionals, a 22-bed paediatric unit, and a mothers’ lodge able to house 18 women and their babies. The existing paediatric unit will be converted into a nursery, alongside upgrades to the hospital’s road infrastructure. Simelane said the project forms part of the department’s ongoing investment in improving healthcare facilities across uMkhanyakude and other rural districts.
Pictured above: King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and Private Office Chief Director Nododile Ndamase, who survived a car accident along with other royal staff on Tuesday.
Image source: Zulu Royal Kingdom
