Latest news with #KwaZulu-NatalDepartmentofTransportandHumanSettlements
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
KwaZulu Natal MEC Siboniso Duma promises to clear R1. 5 billion payment backlog affecting service providers
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma apologises to affected contractors, confirms R600 million payout this week, and promises a turnaround plan amid technical issues with the new accounting system. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements has expressed deep concern over the delay in payments to more than 2,000 service providers, amounting to over R1.5 billion. MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said the department remains committed to transparency and accountability and is working urgently to resolve the situation. 'In particular, we are extremely worried about the delays in the payment of service providers who are rendering services to the department across all corners of the province,' Duma said. The department revealed that R600 million is expected to be cleared this week, with the remaining R700 million scheduled for payment over the next two weeks. Many of the affected service providers have reportedly been waiting for payment since January 2025. These include: Construction companies working on roads and bridges, public transport service providers and other general suppliers.
IOL News
13-05-2025
- IOL News
Construction company robbed of 300 litres of diesel in Bergville
Amid the R177 million road rehabilitation project in Bergville, a construction company was robbed of 300 litres of diesel by criminals. Image: Supplied A construction company hired by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements for the R177 million rehabilitation of a road in Bergville under the Okhahlamba Local Municipality, was robbed of 300 litres of diesel by gun-wielding members of the construction mafia. KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the incident was reported at the Bergville Police Station. He expressed confidence that KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his team of law enforcement agencies would apprehend the criminals. He also saluted Inkosi Njabulo Miya of the Emazizini Traditional Council, the izinduna, and the whole community for their public display of anger and opposition against these criminals who are trying to derail the project. 'We are encouraging anyone with information about this robbery to contact the nearest police,' Duma said. 'There should be no place for construction mafia gangs in villages, townships, suburbs or anywhere in KZN.' 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. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Duma said the department invested R177 million in rehabilitating the main road P304. The road is a link connecting Bergville to Maloti-Drakensberg Park/Royal Natal Park through R74. It also stimulates rural economies for communities living under the yoke of poverty. The road network was destroyed by floods, leaving hundreds of communities isolated and unable to access hospitals, schools and socio-economic centres. 'With this investment, as the department, we want to ensure that P304 remains in safe and usable condition and contributes towards the stimulation of all sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and tourism,' Duma said. Earlier, Duma revealed that the project will lead to 74 job opportunities, R32 million is set aside for local emerging contractors, R9 million is for women-owned contractors, R16 million is for youth-owned contractors, and R1.6 million is for people with disabilities. Two eThekwini Municipality employees were arrested for diesel theft. They were caught offloading diesel at a residence near Verulam. Image: Supplied Meanwhile, two eThekwini Municipality employees were arrested for diesel theft last week. The municipality said a municipal water truck was caught offloading diesel at a private house. Another water truck was parked next to the same house's gate in eKukhanyeni near Verulam. Both trucks were carrying water meant to be delivered to communities. The municipality said investigators were in the area after receiving reports that several truck drivers were seen in the area offloading diesel. This led to the arrest of two municipal employees, and a theft case was opened at Inanda Police Station. The suspects are expected to appear in court. City Integrity and Investigations Unit head Jimmy Ngcobo commended the investigators. 'Further investigations will be conducted in this area as it is alleged that diesel is frequently offloaded there,' Ngcobo said. He said the stolen diesel is resold. 'We will not allow employees to steal municipal resources,' Ngcobo said. 'We urge the community to report fraud and corruption cases to be investigated, like in this instance.' Ngcobo added that the suspects were caught with 12x25 litres of offloaded diesel, amounting to 300 litres of stolen municipal diesel.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Climate
- IOL News
KZN's swift action: 144 residents evacuated from mudslide disaster in uMlazi
Residents whose homes were damaged after recent heavy rains caused mudslides in uMlazi H Section are being evacuated by the KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements. Image: Supplied The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements has evacuated 144 people whose homes were damaged after recent heavy rains caused severe mudslides in uMlazi H Section, south of Durban. Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya stated that the team is collaborating with the ward committee to complete the evacuation of the remaining 72 residents. He noted that some of these individuals were currently at work, while others were temporarily residing with relatives. 'We continue with the verification process to ensure that nobody is left behind,' he said. This comes after six people were injured in P Section last week during the same storm as a result of mudslides. KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi ordered that these affected residents in P Section be relocated and that an evaluation of the entire area should be conducted. This evaluation found that other houses in the vicinity had also been affected. On Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, together with KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma, visited uMlazi H Section to assess the damage caused to about 56 houses, also affected by mudslides. One of the houses that was damaged after recent heavy rains. Image: Supplied Based on what she had seen, Simelane said the relocation of these households would be the best solution. 'While the assessment is conducted, the immediate task is to relocate about 56 families to Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA),' said Simelane. The minister directed that the most affected families should be relocated within 48 hours. MEC Duma said the evacuation process would begin on Thursday. 'We wish to announce that today at 15h00, more than 200 community members will be evacuated.' According to Sibiya, evacuations continued from 11pm on Thursday to 2am on Friday. Sibiya said the department will monitor the evacuation on site and be with the community as they embark on this journey. Duma said he received a report at 3am on Friday and confirmed that evacuations would resume later that morning at 9am. In a progress report on Friday afternoon, Duma said that he has been interacting with Minister Simelane, informing her about the progress of the evacuation of 216 community members from H Section. He said 144 people, including children, had been evacuated and were being accommodated at Lagoon Centre in eManzimtoti The evacuated residents are being accommodated at the Lagoon Centre in eManzimtoti Image: Supplied Duma stated that on Thursday afternoon, the department inspected the self-catering accommodation facility and was satisfied with its condition. He said this facility will help these storm victims recover from the traumatic experience of living in collapsing houses. 'Working with eThekwini Municipality, meals such as breakfast and supper will be provided for 14 days starting from this weekend. After 14 days, food parcels will be provided to the families for self-catering purposes. One of the units at the at Lagoon Centre in eManzimtoti. Image: Supplied
The South African
25-04-2025
- Climate
- The South African
One dead, others injured after heavy rains in Durban
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements has confirmed that one person has died while others were rushed to various hospitals following heavy rains in Durban. Torrential rains wreaked havoc in Durban on Friday morning as many roads were flooded and trees fell. According to the Department of Human Settlements, one person died after a house collapsed in P Section in Umlazi, Ward 85. In addition, several people were rushed to local hospitals and clinics following the destruction of their homes. Other affected areas in Umlazi include Chicago in AA Section, J Section, Ward 78 near KwaMgaga High School. In these areas, houses have been washed away, with community members left homeless. In addition, our highly efficient team from Road Traffic Inspectorate has recorded an increase in the number of crashes. Roads have been flooded and bridges destroyed. 'Heavy rains and floods take place as we present budget speeches for both departments. 'We singled out floods – destruction of houses and road networks—as the major challenge that required both departments to do more with limited resources,' spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said. 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.
