In what appears to be an act of usurping the powers of the Zulu King, the Ingonyama Trust Board has partitioned the chiefdom of the Cele clan in Umzumbe in southern KwaZulu-Natal and given it to the Radebe clan, which is fighting for kingship in the province. The decision of the Ingonyama Trust Board, which oversees tribal land in KwaZulu-Natal, is contained in a letter that was obtained by the African Times, which is dated 27 February 2026. In the…

Former eThekwini Deputy Mayor and Durban businessman Philani “PG” Mavundla has welcomed revelations that a corruption report by forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and Sarah Jane-Trent, which led to Transnet cancelling a multi-billion-rand joint venture in the Durban Harbour in 2018, was fabricated. Mavundla says he feels vindicated that the truth has finally emerged, seven (07) years after the report caused the collapse of a partnership between Italian construction firm CMC Di Ravena and the eMtateni Consortium. Speaking to African Times, Mavundla…

The former Deputy City Manager of eThekwini Municipality and a former confidant of former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede, has dumped the ANC and joined the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP). Phillip Sithole, who first gained prominence by turning Durban Tourism around and moulding it into a force to be reckoned with and later as the Deputy City Manager for Economic Development and Planning, joined the Jacob Zuma-led party today. Sithole left the city three years ago when his contract expired, and…

The Deputy Mayor of the corruption and scandals-prone Umswathi Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has been reported to authorities after she allegedly applied for an administrative position within the same municipality. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that the deputy mayor, Nokuthula Mdunge, who is a member of the African National Congress (ANC), first took part in the council process that restructured the organogram of the municipality and then created the dubious position of Manager for Intergovernmental…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the National Freedom Party (NFP) have agreed to attend a joint meeting of the so-called “black and progressive political parties” to discuss plans for a coalition government that will see the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) ousted in KwaZulu-Natal. The African National Congress (ANC), which holds 17 of the 80 seats in the provincial legislature, is still mum, and early indications suggest that without the approval from Luthuli House, they…

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has signalled its intention to step in and stabilise the troubled Uthukela District Municipality. The intended move is contained in a letter written by the Minister of CoGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa and sent to the MEC of CoGTA in KwaZulu-Natal, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi. Hlabisa said he had to intervene after the Northern KZN Chamber of Business, which is anchored in Ladysmith, asked to step in and avert the pending disaster in the…

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has successfully interdicted controversial Durban-based and ANC-linked businessman Calvin Mathibeli from making defamatory statements against him on social media. The Durban High Court has ordered Mathibeli to immediately delete and retract the comments on all his social media platforms. Additionally, Mathibeli has to go back to all the news channels where he made the allegations and retract them. Mkhwanazi made the application on an urgent basis earlier this week after Mathibeli accused…

The King of the Zulu nation wants total control of the Ingonyama Trust, which controls millions of hectares of tribal land across KwaZulu-Natal. As a result, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has appointed retired Judge Isaac Madondo and Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi to lead the process to change the legislation that will see the devolving of the powers to appoint the Ingonyama Trust board from the Minister of Land Affairs and Rural Development and given to him. Currently, the King appoints a portion…

Mpumalanga-based billionaire businessman Robert Gumede, whose Vision Group acquired the debt of Tongaat Hulett, has undertaken to save the historic sugar and milling company from liquidation. During a meeting with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini on Wednesday, Gumede outlined his vision to repurpose the company, emphasising its critical economic role within the Zulu kingdom. Also present were the Royal Chancellor, Inkosi Malusi Zondi, and the Traditional Prime Minister, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi. The undertaking comes despite Tongaat Hulett’s business rescue practitioners having already…

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, has declared that the once-feared construction mafia that disrupted projects and extorted money from contractors has been decimated, and almost all projects are on track. Speaking on Tuesday evening in Phoenix, north of Durban, Meyer provided an update on his department’s performance for the 2024-2025 financial year. He said the upgrading of the Menzi High School in Umlazi, Durban, which had been stalled by the mafia for years, is now complete…