Latest news with #Duma
The Citizen
20 hours ago
- The Citizen
1 learner dies, others seriously injured in Ndwedwe taxi crash
1 learner dies, others seriously injured in Ndwedwe taxi crash One learner died, four suffered serious injuries, and a further six were treated and discharged after a horrific accident in Ndwedwe area on Wednesday. Reports indicate that the minibus taxi in which the pupils were travelling rolled down an embankment. While a number of allegations have been made, Transport MEC Siboniso Duma assigned a team to visit the scene with urgency. 'The team also proceeded to Montobella District Hospital to monitor the condition of the 10 learners who were injured,' said Duma. 'The extent of the injuries suggests extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. 'I have mandated the team to launch an investigation and assess the overall management of this scholar transport service and many others. 'In addition, I have mandated the Road Traffic Inspectorate and other law enforcement agencies across the province to be on full alert and do spot checks of scholar transport,' said Duma. The MEC added that he has requested parents and learners to report any scholar transport concerns to the department's toll-free number 0800 055505 or WhatsApp 060 1055505. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
Pupil dies, several injured after 'drunk' KZN scholar transport driver crashes
KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Siboniso Duma has ordered an investigation into a minibus taxi crash in which one pupil died and 10 others were injured amid allegations of the driver being drunk. Duma said he was alerted to the crash via WhatsApp messages from community members in Ndwedwe about an alleged drunk driver of a scholar transport vehicle. The taxi full of pupils rolled down an embankment. 'I also received a disturbing video of the [allegedly] drunk driver and other photos. I immediately assigned a team to urgently visit the scene of a crash caused by the same driver. The team also proceeded to Montobella District Hospital to monitor the condition of 10 learners who were injured,' he said. Duma said he received news in the early hours of Thursday of the death of one of the pupils. Six other pupils were treated and discharged, while four were admitted with severe head and body injuries. 'The extent of the injuries suggests extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. I have mandated the team to launch an investigation and assess the management of this scholar transport service and many others. 'Drastic action will be taken not only against the driver but also against the owner of this service provider. In addition, I have mandated the Road Traffic Inspectorate and other law enforcement agencies in the province to be on full alert and do spot checks of scholar transport.' On Tuesday Duma presented a report on scholar transport to the KwaZulu-Natal legislature transport portfolio committee. 'We reported over the past 400 days we have ensured scholar transport for more than 77,369 learners in 434 schools in all parts of the province. The department is administering the learner transport services programme on behalf of the education department with a budget of R341.154m this financial year,' he said. There are 85 contracts spread across 12 districts, he added. 'Despite the coverage outlined above, the programme still has a backlog of 1,571 schools on the waiting list, as well as 234,907 learners requiring the service. We need more than R2bn for this purpose.'
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
One child dies in scholar transport accident in KZN
Following a tragic accident involving a scholar transport vehicle in Ndwedwe, KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma has launched an investigation into allegations of drunk driving, resulting in the death of a learner and injuries to several others. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, has launched an investigation following a tragic scholar transport accident that resulted in the death of a learner and left several others injured in Ndwedwe. It is alleged that the driver of the scholar transport vehicle was drunk at the time of the accient. Duma said he had received WhatsApp messages and a video from concerned community members on Tuesday night, alerting him about the driver, who according to the community appeared to be visibly intoxicated. 'Last night, I received WhatsApp messages from community members in Ndwedwe who informed me about a drunk driver of a scholar transport. I also received a disturbing video of the drunk driver and other photos,' he said. The MEC said he had 'immediately assigned a team to urgently visit the scene of a horrific accident caused by the same driver,' and also sent them to Montobella District Hospital to monitor the condition of the injured learners. According to the report he received on Wednesday, one learner had died after the minibus taxi rolled down an embankment. 'Six other learners were treated and discharged, while four were admitted with severe head and body injuries. The extent of the injuries suggests extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation,' he said. Duma said the department would take 'drastic action not only against the driver but also against the owner of this service provider'. He added that the Road Traffic Inspectorate and other law enforcement agencies had been mandated to conduct spot checks on scholar transport vehicles throughout the province. Parents and learners have been urged to report negligent drivers and those suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the department's toll-free number 0800 055 505 or WhatsApp line 060 105 5505. Duma also referred to a report presented to the Transport Portfolio Committee on Tuesday, which showed that the department was currently transporting 77,369 learners from 434 schools. 'The department is administering the learner transport services programme on behalf of the Department of Education with a budget of R341,154 million this financial year,' he said. However, Duma acknowledged the existing gap in service provision, revealing that 'the programme still has a backlog of 1 571 schools on the waiting list, as well as 234 907 learners requiring the service. We need more than R2 billion for this purpose.' THE MERCURY
The South African
2 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
eThekwini residents build shacks on cemetery graves
More than 400 community members are living in informal settlements at Seaview Cemetery in Ward 64, under the eThekwini Municipality. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said some residents erected shacks directly on top of graves. Duma said that on Sunday, he instructed the Head of the Department of Human Settlements, Max Mbili, to work with the municipality to expedite the profiling of families living at the cemetery on Coedmore Road. He reminded residents that the democratic government under Nelson Mandela prioritised housing construction in the area shortly after 1994. 'Priority was given to families who had lived in the area since 1981. It is unfortunate that despite having relocated communities, some came back to the area and others built new informal settlements in the same area,' Duma said. Around 2000, officials relocated families from the cemetery area to new homes in Welbedacht, Chatsworth. These officials included the late KZN MEC for Housing, Dumisane Makhaye, former MEC for Housing, Mike Mabuyakhulu, former eThekwini Mayor, Obed Mlaba, and Nigel Gumede, former Chair of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee. Duma acknowledged that people migrate to eThekwini in search of socio-economic opportunities due to housing and land shortages, but stressed the need to respect burial grounds. 'Cemeteries are sacred places where the dead must be allowed to rest in peace. We call on communities to respect the departed soul,' he said. The Department of Human Settlements continues to engage with Ratepayers Associations regarding state-owned land where housing projects face delays. According to The Citizen , Duma confirmed that the department is conducting comprehensive research into housing needs across four priority groups: Households living on privately owned land facing eviction Households in rural or informal settlements in disaster-prone areas Households living in graveyards, such as Seaview Cemetery Farm dwellers The research will involve institutions such as the Moses Kotane Research Institute, National Home Builders Registration Council, Stats SA, CSIR, and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. While research continues, the department has identified the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality as the pilot site for the Agri-Village programme. The initiative, involving the Department of Land Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, aims to improve living conditions for farm dwellers by ensuring access to decent housing, water, electricity, roads, and socio-economic opportunities. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Russia passes law punishing searches for 'extremist' content
Russians will face fines if they search online for "extremist" content under a new law that tightens censorship and could have sweeping ramifications for digital privacy and the fate of WhatsApp in the country. The legislation, approved on Tuesday by parliament's lower house, the State Duma, has drawn criticism from some pro-government figures, as well as opposition activists. Opponents say the fines it prescribes, of up to 5,000 roubles ($63.82), could open the door to tougher charges and penalties. The Ministry of Justice's list of extremist materials stretches to more than 500 pages. Entities banned in Russia for carrying out "extremist activities" include late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, the "international LGBT movement" and US tech giant Meta Platforms. On Friday, lawmakers who regulate the IT sector said Meta-owned WhatsApp should prepare to leave the Russian market as it was likely to be added to a list of restricted software. The new legislation targets people who knowingly search for extremist materials online, including through virtual private networks that millions of people across Russia use to bypass censorship and access banned content. "This bill concerns a very narrow group of people, who look for extremist content because they themselves are already one step away from extremism," Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma's information technology committee, told Duma TV. Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadaev said law enforcement would have to prove that users intended to view extremist materials and that merely accessing platforms would not be penalised. It was not immediately clear how the authorities would determine intent in an online search. The lack of clarity has left many feeling uneasy. Yekaterina Mizulina, head of Russia's League for a Safe Internet, a body founded with the authorities' support, criticized the law's "vague wording" and warned the law could spark a wave of fraud, blackmail and extortion. "For now, the law applies only to the search for extremist materials, but there is no guarantee," Mizulina wrote on Telegram. "The list could be expanded in a couple of days." Sarkis Darbinyan, founder of digital rights group Roskomsvoboda, said he expected people to start unsubscribing from certain channels and deleting apps. "I think this is one of the main tasks that has been set: to create fear, to create such uncertainty so as to increase the level of self-censorship among the Russian internet audience," Darbinyan told Reuters. Shadaev told the Duma that fines on the Russian population were preferable to banning platforms like WhatsApp and Google in Russia. Moscow has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services, including a new state-backed messaging app, MAX, but many people across Russia still rely on foreign platforms. Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who tried unsuccessfully to run against Vladimir Putin in a presidential election last year, led a protest outside the Duma on Tuesday and promised to continue protesting the bill's passage through the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, before it becomes law on Sept. 1. "These amendments have caused a level of resistance in Russian society that has not been seen for a long time," Nadezhdin said, pointing to the surprisingly high number of lawmakers voting against the proposed legislation in the Duma, which rarely sees serious dissent. The law was approved with 68 percent of the vote. There were 67 votes against the legislation, or 14.9 percent, and 22 abstentions. (Reuters)
