Sihle Mavuso presents the latest news from KwaZulu-Natal.
Nkandla – A pastor, a mother, and another woman from Nkandla have been sentenced to prison for killing two children during a prayer session in March 2020. The three claimed the children were possessed by demons and had harmed a child of one of the accused. To “remove the demons”, they beat the children with plastic pipes and a sjambok and burned them with a stove. They received sentences ranging from 15 to 25 years in prison.
Dumbe – The National Freedom Party is facing new financial problems, according to a leaked letter from the party’s secretary-general, Teddy Thwala. In the letter to the South African Revenue Services, Thwala revealed that although the party received funds from parliament and the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, it failed to pay former employees who won cases at the CCMA. The party also allegedly hasn’t paid current staff in the legislature.
Pietermaritzburg – The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party in Pietermaritzburg is demanding that the ANC mayor of Msunduzi, Mzi Thebolla, step down. This comes after several black townships lost electricity when their transformers were removed. On Wednesday, MK party supporters marched to the Pietermaritzburg city hall to demand the mayor’s resignation.
Umdoni – The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has been given a list of 23 issues that staff at the ANC-run Umdoni local municipality in Umzinto want addressed. These include concerns about the qualifications of municipal manager Thabisile Ndlela, an investigation into a R50-million tender for road repairs, and allegations of petrol theft said to have been covered up by the council.
Pietermaritzburg – The South African Local Government Bargaining Council has ruled that suspended Msunduzi municipal manager Lulamile Mapholoba’s application is no longer relevant because other court rulings have overtaken it. Mapholoba was suspended in February and went to the council for help, but the Labour Court later cancelled his suspension. However, the municipality issued a new suspension, keeping him from returning to work until his disciplinary hearing is held.
Pictured above: The Nkandla trio that killed two children has been sentenced to prison.
Source: Sihle Mavuso
