Latest news with #DAKZN
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Court proceedings for DA leader's murder: Accused remain in custody
KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance leader Francois Rodgers, uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas, Deputy Mayor Sandile Mnikathi and councillors held placards outside the Howick Magistrate's Court, demanding justice for murdered uMngeni Municipality chief whip Nhlalayenza Ndlovu. Image: DA KZN/ Facebook One of the men accused of murdering uMngeni Municipality chief whip, Councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, was heard complaining about the conditions in Westville Prison when he and two other accused appeared in court for the murder. Ndlovu was shot dead at his home near Mpophomeni in December 2023. Last month, the man believed to be the main suspect, Zwelithini Buthelezi, an Induna at the Nxamalala Tribal Authority, was arrested and joined his two co-accused, Thobani Hlongwa and Khayelihle Shabalala, in the dock on Friday. KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Francois Rodgers, who was in court alongside uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas, Deputy Mayor Sandile Mnikathi and councillors, said Buthelezi did not apply for bail. The case has been postponed to July 9 for further investigations. All three suspects remain in custody. 'We welcome the fact that there was no bail application,' Rodgers said. 'What we don't welcome is the fact that this remains such a slow and tedious process.' Rodgers said they engaged with the forensic investigators the party appointed for Ndlovu's murder. One of the questions he asked was whether there was any collaboration between the South African Police Service and their forensic unit because they have pertinent evidence in this case. 'And again, the SAPS are giving our team the cold shoulder,' Rodgers said. He said in the bigger scheme of crimes, this was an insignificant issue. However, Crime Intelligence head General Dumisani Khumalo was in court on Friday. 'And you have to ask yourself why. Why is he here for a case that, as I say, in the bigger schemes of things, is fairly insignificant?' Rodgers said. 'The presence of General Khumalo, head of crime intelligence, at the hearing today also gives the impression that there is more to the brutal killing of Cllr Ndlovu. 'So there are lots of unanswered questions. But at the end of the day, we just want to see justice. We want to see justice for Nhlalayenza, for the family, for his friends and for the party.' Rodgers added that one of the accused was complaining about the conditions in Westville Prison. 'Well, you know, if he hadn't committed the crime, he wouldn't be in Westville Prison. 'Perhaps he should rather think about the family, the children, the wife, the friends of Nhlalayenza, than complaining about the conditions in Westville Prison,' Rodgers said. Rodgers said they continue to offer support to Ndlovu's family until there is justice and those responsible for his murder are brought to book. [email protected]
IOL News
15-05-2025
- IOL News
Outrage as laptops stolen from school's newly established cyberlab
Laptops were stolen during a break-in at the Sibongumbomvu Combined School in Ward 6 of the uMngeni Municipality. . Image: uMngeni Local Municipality/X A rural school in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands was robbed of laptops in its newly donated cyberlab. In a joint statement, DA Mooi Umngeni Constituency head Edwin Macrae Bath and DA KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi expressed outrage over the break-in at Sibongumbomvu Combined School in Ward 6 of the uMngeni Municipality. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, weeks after a brand-new cyberlab was handed over to the school by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies on April 15. Suspects stole 20 donated laptops, the school's IT equipment and they damaged infrastructure. 'This cyberlab was not just a room filled with machines—it was a bridge between rural learners and the digital future,' the statement read. 'Initial evidence suggests the crime was carried out by individuals with inside knowledge of the school's layout and security measures. It was targeted and calculated—a strategic hit against progress in one of our province's most under-resourced communities.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ [WATCH]: It's official! The opening is underway by Minister @SollyMalatsi, joined by Mr Dabie Francis, Principal of Sibongumbomvu Combined School, who unveiled the plaque and officially opened the brand-new Coding & Robotics Lab in Howick. — Dept of Communications & Digital Technologies (@CommsZA) April 15, 2025 The statement also revealed that police had not arrived at the scene by the time of the statement, which was distributed Wednesday morning. 'This delay is disgraceful, and it sends a chilling message that rural communities can be violated without response,' the statement read. In a letter, the DA requested KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to immediately deploy a dedicated task team to investigate the incident, demanding a clear timeline for arrests and public updates. The letter to Mkhwanazi said there has been a concerning delay in response from the police service. The incident appears planned and not opportunistic, possibly indicating an inside link. Prompt deployment of senior investigators is urgently requested to apprehend those responsible and send a strong message against targeting children's education. Increased police visibility and community engagement in rural schools are also crucial to prevent future incidents. On April 15, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi launched a Cyberlab and Robotics Lab in uMngeni with Software AG SA and uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas. Image: Solly Malatsi/X Then, in parliamentary questions to the KZN Department of Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, the party demanded accountability on the incident. Hlomuka was asked to provide details on: existing security infrastructure; prior risk assessments for the cyberlab handover; current security measures for high-value digital infrastructure in rural and township schools; the number of KZN schools receiving coding and robotics infrastructure since January 2023, and subsequent theft/vandalism incidents; immediate plans to replace stolen equipment; allocation of emergency funding for repairs; investigation into potential insider involvement; and collaboration plans with SAPS for high-risk school security. 'This is more than just a stolen resource. It is a stolen future. 'The DA calls on the community to speak up—do not protect those who steal from your children. Report them. Help ensure they face justice. If these criminals are allowed to walk free, the message is clear: rural learners don't matter,' the statement read. 'This tragedy reinforces the urgent need for a whole-of-society approach that the DA continues to advocate for—where government, communities, civil society, and law enforcement work together to protect and uplift our schools. Ensuring the safety and success of learners cannot rest on the shoulders of the state alone. It requires shared responsibility, active citizen involvement, and strong partnerships to create schools that are centres of hope, not targets of crime.' With only three days of training, the pupils had grasped coding and robotics. They demonstrated this to Communications and Technological Minister Solly Malatsi and uMngeni Municipality Mayor Chris Pappas. Image: uMngeni Local Municipality/X The public is requested to contact Detective Branch Commander Warrant Officer Sindane at 033 845 6526 with any information relevant to ongoing investigations. In a separate incident, KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said Hilton police are investigating a business burglary case after suspects reportedly broke into a school in Hilton between May 13 and 14. 'Reports indicate that laptops, cellphones, router, TV, and other items were stolen,' Magwaza said. 'The matter is still under investigation.'
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
KZN health department says it owes service providers R1.7bn
The KwaZulu-Natal department of health is in a shambles and owes service providers R1.7bn. This comes after the provincial department was in the news for alleged medicine shortages. On Monday scores of service providers embarked on a protest march demanding their money. Some said the department had not paid them for more than a year. They included SMMEs, which are — according to legislation — supposed to be paid within a month of rendering services. DA KZN spokesperson on health Dr Imran Keeka called for consequences. 'The DA notes with concern that businesses in KwaZulu-Natal are owed an estimated R1.7bn by the provincial department of health. The staggering sum is revealed in response to a DA written parliamentary question,' said Keeka. He said the reply further indicated that, of this, R1.33bn fell within the 60-day to 90-day payment period. There were 1,519 unpaid invoices in the over 90-day period, amounting to just more than R71m. 'The DA notes that KZN health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi, has always been open and forthright about her department's financial woes during portfolio committee meetings. However, such a situation — the nonpayment of suppliers on time — should not have arisen in the first place or to the point where they are affecting services., Keeka said the concern arising out of the reply was that it was very possible that small and medium sized companies in KwaZulu-Natal were the worst affected. 'Equally concerning is that the MEC and acting HOD intimated, during the same meetings, that some service providers, while paid, had not paid their staff. This had led to protests, in some instances implicating the department. However, what happens within companies once the department has concluded its business with them is beyond its control.' Keeka said the department had unfortunately adopted a 'take from Peter to pay Paul' approach in a bid to resolve some of the payment issues. 'This appears to have left some companies struggling more than others. Again, it particularly affects small businesses. Regrettably, this resulted in several suppliers gathering at the department's Pietermaritzburg head office on Monday, demanding payment.' Currently the Division of Revenue Bill, or the budget, as presented by finance minister Enoch Godongwana on March 12, is withdrawn, with provinces set to table their budgets within two weeks of May 21. Once the province's budget is tabled and certainty exists, it is expected that the situation may turn around. Keeka described the situation as dire and in need of urgent attention. The KZN health department communications unit did not respond to queries.
