The forensic investigation commissioned by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) into allegations of brazen looting and corruption during the replacement of water pumps at Zakheni water station in Ladysmith has been concluded. As a result, CoGTA MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has instructed the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) led Uthukela District Municipality to take “corrective” measures as outlined in the report into the 2023 procurement process. The investigation was initiated after the DA, a coalition partner…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has instituted forensic investigations into three of the province’s troubled municipalities – Nongoma, KwaDukuza and Msunduzi in the Midlands. This was announced today, 13 March 2025 by the MEC for the department, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi in Durban. Buthelezi also announced measures to turn around municipalities in the province after it was revealed in the latest Auditor General’s (AG) report for the 2023-2024 financial year that municipalities across the province raked…

The heavy rains that battered Durban and other areas in KwaZulu-Natal have claimed six lives in different places. The death toll is expected to rise as disaster teams are still combing affected areas across the province. The provisional death toll was announced by the eThekwini Municipality, confirming four deaths, while KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi added others while speaking in Pietermaritzburg.  The four fatalities in eThekwini were reported in Folweni, KwaMakhutha, Demat and Ensimbini…

Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has turned to his former traditional prime minister and tasked him with organising the upcoming imbizo to deliberate on the Ingonyama Trust and the pending liquidation of Ithala Bank.  The Zulu King requested Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi to organise the gathering, usually called during periods of crises faced by the Zulu nation, via a letter seen by African Times. The Ingonyama Trust administers vast hectares of land in parts of KwaZulu-Natal collectively owned by the Zulu people.…

King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has left everyone in the Zulu kingdom and beyond guessing about his next move after he did not use the all-important commemoration of the battle of Isandlwana in Nquthu in northern KwaZulu-Natal to fill key positions. The King also steered away from speaking about his highly publicised and pending divorce. He also said nothing to clear the confusion on whether he would still marry Queen Nomzamo Myeni of Jozini as his third wife or not. However, many…

The troubled Dannhauser Local Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal is in hot water after it appointed a less qualified official to act in the vacant position of municipal manager. The ANC-CFP-EFF coalition led municipality plucked Lungelo Gcabashe from her position as the director for technical services to hold the fort pending legal battles with suspended municipal manager, Mandla Sithole.  The appointment had to be approved by the province’s MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi. In a…

Amid a messy divorce storm engulfing the Zulu Monarchy, King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has announced a date to marry his third wife, Queen Nomzamo Myeni of Jozini in northern KwaZulu-Natal.  The King, currently embroiled in a Pietermaritzburg High Court battle to divorce one of his wives, would be officially marrying Myeni (to conclude the marriage as they are already married and living together) towards the end of this month this year. This would happen shortly after he had presided over the…

The troubled Nongoma Local Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal has finally appointed Mpumelelo Bongani Mnguni as the acting municipal manager, averting a salary payment disaster that would have seen about 260 employees going to Christmas unpaid. Mnguni’s appointment was ratified during a special council sitting called after employees were not paid on Friday because there was no municipal manager authorised to make salary payments. The appointment is a major climb down by the council after it initially defied a court order…

About 260 desperate employees of the cash-strapped Nongoma Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal started their festive season on a sad note after their December salaries were not paid on time. The struggling municipality also failed to pay its legion of councillors. Both the employees and the councillors were supposed to get their salaries on Friday, 20 December, but were left high and dry. The delay forced the council to hold a special sitting and later the workforce was told that their…

Prince Mbonisi Zulu, the nemesis of King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini who was last week fired by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), is not taking the matter lying down. The senior Zulu prince, a half brother to the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, has unleashed his lawyers on the department to challenge the sacking. In a letter obtained by the African Times, addressed to the department led by MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, Prince Mbonisi’s lawyers denied that…