Latest news with #eThekwini
IOL News
19 minutes ago
- IOL News
Durban High Court gears up for the 2026 murder trial of rapper AKA
Murder accused men Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande Image: Nomonde Zondi The murder pre-trial conference of slain South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend Tebello 'Tibz' Mostoane is approaching its end. This as the State and defence have agreed on certain aspects. The Durban High Court on Thursday learnt that only minor issues need to be sorted out before the KwaZulu-Natal Judge President approves trial dates for 2026. Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande are charged with the murders of Forbes and Motsoane, who were gunned down in Durban on Florida Road in February 2023. The two friends were killed outside Wish restaurant, where they had their last supper. The Wish restaurant has since closed down. The state senior prosecutor, Elvis Gcweka, told the court that the Section 220 admissions have been made by the accused. Section 220 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 allows for formal admissions by the accused, which constitute sufficient proof of such facts and mean that the State does not have to prove these facts in the trial. However, the big-shot Durban senior counsel advocate, Jimmy Howse, said in respect of his client Lindani, there were admissions that they had a problem with. Howse has just been recently instructed in this matter. 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 In the past, he has represented controversial Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize. He is also representing the former eThekwini deputy head of Supply Chain Management, Sandile Ngcobo, in a Durban Solid Waste corruption case involving Zandile Gumede, a former mayor of eThekwini. Attorney Sibusiso Dlamini, who is instructing all the counsels in this matter, also told the court that in respect of Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Ndimande, there was an admission that they had a problem with. Dlamini further stated that advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, who is the counsel for Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Ndimande, was in another matter as he was not present. At some stage, the matter had to stand down as Judge Jacqueline Henriques said the State and defence must get their house in order regarding this. When the matter was called again, Gcweka said the evidence that the state would lead in the trial is bank statements, motor vehicle car trackers, ballistics, CCTV, and witness statements. He added that the State would lead with 45 witnesses, with additional witnesses. However, Howse said he wanted the State to provide the defence with the witness statements of the additional witnesses that were not named by the State. 'It's always an ambush at trial,' he added. 'The trial would be heard over two sessions, one in July and the other in October,' Gcweka told the court. However, he stated that the dates had not been approved by Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati. Judge Henriques said she was not going to certify the matter trial-ready as the defence and State need to get their house in order and get the court dates certified by Judge President Poyo-Dlwati. The matter was postponed to August 13.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
SAHRC's 'pro-foreigner stance' comes under fire from ActionSA's Mashaba
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has slammed the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), accusing it of protecting the rights of foreigners. Mashaba was speaking in Durban ahead of his party's legal showdown with the eThekwini municipality at the Pietermaritzburg high court on Thursday. He was accompanied by the party's national chairperson Michael Beaumont and provincial chairperson Zwakele Mncwango on inspections of failed sewer infrastructure sites across the municipality. 'I am asking myself, when does this chapter 9 institution protect the rights of South Africans? The only time is when foreigners enter the country illegally,' said Mashaba. Mashaba's comments came amid national attempts to prevent foreigners from being admitted and treated at government health-care facilities from the end of June. The SAHRC said such practices are unethical and unlawful, and urged health and police authorities to act.
The South African
a day 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.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
#BestofDurban2025: Caxton Durban announces the crème de la crème of Durban
THE votes are in, the winners are out, and yoh, the results speak volumes! The Best of Durban Readers' Choice Awards 2025 once again showed off the vibe, variety, and sheer local brilliance that make eThekwini shine. After months of piping-hot competition and voting that came in faster than a bunny chow at lunch, over 358 000 votes were dished out across nine sizzling categories. Durbanites pulled in strong, helping crown 224 top-tier businesses and service providers as the crème de la crème of the 031. From cafés that know your order before you say 'Usual, please', to mechanics who don't take you for a ride, doctors with bedside brilliance, and teachers raising the bar, Durban, you've got taste. Also read: Announcing KZN's best coffee spots Food & Drink came in flaming hot with 66 777 votes, no surprise there, followed by Professional Services, Medical, Education, and Shopping. Altogether, a whopping 5087 nominees made the cut across more than 224 sub-categories. Clearly, Durbanites know how to back their favourites. But this campaign wasn't just about likes and logos, it was about heart. With over 21 000 reader competition entries, it's clear locals care about uplifting the legends who keep our city ticking. These are the real MVPs — the hairstylist who's never had a bad hair day, the teacher always chalking up wins, or the cashier who greets you like family. Every winner and finalist is a standing ovation for hard work, heart, and hustle. The full results are live across our Caxton Durban titles; Northglen News, Berea Mail, Highway Mail, Queensburgh News — and all over our socials. So big up to everyone who voted, supported, or made the list. Durban's got talent, heart and hustle. We can't wait to see these champs shine even brighter next year. From all at Caxton Local Media Durban we say, thank you, dankie, ngiyabonga. To view the winners click here. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here
Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
eThekwini taken to court for ‘possum' stance on Durban beach sewage crisis
Durban municipal leaders will come under renewed legal pressure this week to devise a more ambitious and 'credible' action plan to resolve a long-standing sewage management crisis that has led to widespread pollution of local rivers and repeated closures of tourist beaches. The civil court case over eThekwini's sewage management crisis, to be heard over two days in the Durban High Court from 24 to 25 July, is the culmination of separate legal actions brought by the DA and ActionSA more than two years ago. The two party actions have now been joined into a single case to determine whether the City has responded reasonably to resolve the crisis and to also consider new measures, including the appointment of an independent administrator to supervise the City's wastewater management and remediation plans. While the City has largely blamed the crisis on the devastating flood events of April and May 2022 and limited budgets to repair the damage, the DA argues that the crisis is the direct result of years of failure and neglect in maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to cope with sewage flows generated by nearly four million city residents. In heads of argument prepared by legal counsel Max du Plessis SC, Toni Palmer and Ruchir Naidoo, the DA alleges that the city leadership is 'playing possum' and resorted to 'opportunistic' excuses by denying culpability for the crisis. Noting that the city's Water and Sanitation department had been presented with United Nations awards in 2007 and 2011 for 'world-class' sanitation and service delivery, the DA counsel recalled that problems were evident before the floods. For example, the City tried to blame water hyacinth for beach closures in December 2021, when the true reason was high levels of E. coli sewage bacteria being pumped into the Umgeni River from dysfunctional sewage treatment works. 'The question eThekwini studiously avoids in explaining its position in these proceedings is what happened between 2007 and now, to take this award-winning system to its present state? Plainly the infrastructure did not age or break overnight. 'Had eThekwini intended seriously to dispute the averment that it had underprioritised its wastewater infrastructure in the past decade, it would have done so by disclosing the amounts, its plans and confirming the adequacy of its budgetary allocations during this time. eThekwini's answering affidavit is entirely mum on this.' But the City's counsel charge that the DA case is big on complaints but short on practical solutions. They say the party has deliberately downplayed relevant factors such as the unprecedented floods and major financial constraints facing the city. 'The impact of the floods has been so significant that the eThekwini Municipality will now have to effectively rebuild damaged and destroyed infrastructure.' The City further argues that it is being asked to 'achieve the impossible', also indicating that full rehabilitation of sewage infrastructure could extend over 25 years. Hastening the rehabilitation timeline would require diverting funds from other priorities such as housing, health or electricity. 'How much money and manpower can legitimately be moved away from housing to the (sewage) repair infrastructure? Does a new clinic get placed on hold until the repair work is undertaken. These are questions that the Democratic Alliance simply ignores…' But the DA denies this, stating: 'This case is about finding practical ways to end the sewerage crisis, while respecting that eThekwini, while floundering and excuse-prone, is nonetheless the local executive authority.' In the absence of political will and the City's failure to develop 'meaningful plans' to resolve the problems, court intervention was needed to craft a legal solution. 'This is relief which is forward-looking, meaningful and within this Court's powers to grant in order to resolve the true dispute between the parties: that is, securing compliance with environmental legislation in the interests of eThekwini residents and visitors and putting an end to continuing violation of human rights in contravention of the Constitution. 'The DA has not approached the Court to tell eThekwini that it knows better how to resolve the problem. It has not sought to dictate to eThekwini how it should prioritise spending of public money. It has not sought to dictate to eThekwini how to comply with the law. It has not sought to force a plan upon eThekwini, or bind its hands in developing such a plan.' Rather, it was seeking to ensure that eThekwini produced a 'proper' action plan rather than elastic wish-lists. 'The (current eThekwini action plan) is not a plan at all, but an aspirational wish-list, the timelines for which are not deadlines, but mere suggestions, which will be revised and pushed back in order to accommodate them being ongoingly missed by eThekwini.' The party further says that eThekwini strongly opposed any court supervision. 'Instead, it remains stuck in history, blaming its ageing infrastructure and limited budget as reasons to excuse it from complying with its constitutional and legal obligations… The law has been violated by the sewerage crisis for which eThekwini is responsible, and this must be recognised and declared by the Court.' Speaking ahead of the court case, DA provincial spokesperson Dean Macpherson said his party had offered to drop the case and reach an out-of-court settlement, but this had been refused. Therefore, his party had no alternative but to approach the courts because neither the provincial or national government had demonstrated a willingness to compel eThekwini to rectify the problems. 'We get no victory from dragging eThekwini and government departments to court to do their jobs and it should not be up to a political party to do this.' In heads of argument prepared by advocates Vinay Naidoo SC, Immanuel Veerasamy and Minikazi Mtati, the City estimates that it will cost R4.5-billion to rehabilitate wastewater treatment infrastructure and a further R1.6-billion to maintain this network thereafter. City officials argue that it is also unaffordable to protect all sewage pump stations from vandals and copper wire thieves as it would cost R900-million per year to provide on-site security guards at all 273 pump stations in the city. As a result, on-site security was only provided at certain 'higher risk' stations. 'The Democratic Alliance would have the court focus on water and sanitation obligations imposed on the municipality to the exclusion of all other obligations… A full reading of the eThekwini Municipality's answering affidavit and the DA's complaints demonstrates that the problems are being attended to, just not with the expediency which the DA would want the municipality to do.' DM
