Police in KwaZulu-Natal are searching for suspects after 32 blocks of cocaine, worth about R13 million, were recovered at Durban Harbour on Tuesday.  

The drugs were found concealed inside the air-conditioning compartment of a bus that had been shipped from “a South American country” and was “destined for Gauteng”, according to police.

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The bust followed the recovery of drugs in Gauteng in April, after information indicated that the drugs had entered the country through Durban Harbour.

Intelligence was activated and certain vessels were profiled.

The latest seizure follows another multimillion-rand Durban-area cocaine bust in March, when police arrested a foreign national in Somerset Park after he was allegedly found with nearly 7kg of cocaine, valued at about R8 million.

Police units involved in Tuesday’s harbour operation included members of the Durban Operational Response Services and the Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit.

According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the operation was the result of coordinated intelligence efforts.

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“We acted swiftly on information received and intercepted the consignment,” said Netshiunda.

He said that the investigation is focused on dismantling the syndicate involved in the smuggling operation.

“Investigations are underway to uncover the suspects behind the shipment and those who were meant to receive the drugs in Gauteng Province,” he said.

Investigations are continuing.

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Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife has renewed its appeal to local, national and international reserves to provide space for the translocation of overabundant elephants from its protected areas.

The provincial conservation body said Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Tembe Elephant Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Umkhuze Game Reserve all have more elephants than their estimated carrying capacities, despite long-term contraception measures and efforts to expand protected areas.

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It said its reserves are all smaller than 100,000 hectares and are surrounded by dense human settlements, limiting its ability to rely on natural ecological processes to absorb elephant impact.

Ezemvelo said there were an estimated 2,862 elephants across 22 properties in KwaZulu-Natal as of 31 March 2026, with 2,089 of them in Ezemvelo-managed protected areas. It added that the majority of the 17 private and communal reserves with elephants are close to or already above preferred population levels.

Translocation would be pursued only if suitable reserves could be found, while no decision had yet been taken on culling, although it said that option may become necessary in the near future.

Ezemvelo cited the situation in Madikwe Game Reserve as a warning, saying elephant overpopulation there had led to significant vegetation destruction and the lingering deaths from starvation of more than 70 elephants. It said it was determined to act before a similar crisis unfolded in KwaZulu-Natal.

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It said failing to manage elephant numbers would heighten the risk of human-wildlife conflict, disease transmission, ecological collapse and animal suffering, particularly as climate change intensifies drought conditions.

It said unchecked pressure on fences increases the risk of elephants escaping, while higher animal densities threaten vulnerable vegetation, important nesting trees and other species dependent on the same ecosystems.

Ezemvelo said live removal remained its preferred option, but that after two decades of searching, suitable new homes for elephants were critically scarce. It said competition for available space was intense and that, as far as it was aware, there were currently no properties within ethical translocation distance from KwaZulu-Natal reserves ready to accept elephants.

It said contraception alone could not solve the problem because, while it helps slow growth, it does not reverse existing population pressure and cannot be used to drive growth to zero without undermining stable herd structures.

The organisation called on NGOs and other conservation stakeholders to come forward urgently with viable and ethical options for range expansion and translocation. It warned that if non-lethal alternatives proved impractical, it could be compelled to resort to lethal measures to protect the broader ecosystem.

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The Inkatha Freedom Party delivered the strongest performance in the latest round of municipal by-elections, winning three wards in northern KwaZulu-Natal, taking outright control of Nongoma and moving to within one seat of a majority in AbaQulusi ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

The IFP’s most symbolic gains came in Nongoma, where it won two wards from the breakaway National Freedom Party, deepening the decline of its long-time regional rival.

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In Ward 20, Bungazeleni Manzimakhulu, the IFP won 47% of the vote, up from 37% in 2024, ahead of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party on 32%. The NFP fell to 8% from 37%, while the ANC also took 8%, down from 24%.

In Ward 7, Ngangayiphi Wela, the IFP increased its support to 55% from 38%, defeating the NFP, which dropped from 53% to 13%. MKP finished second on 21%, while the ANC secured 9%. The two wins followed the IFP’s earlier February gain in Nongoma Ward 17, meaning the party has now taken three consecutive wards from the NFP in the municipality.

Those victories push the IFP to 23 of 45 seats in Nongoma, giving it an outright council majority. Before the latest by-elections, the IFP was on 21 seats.

In neighbouring AbaQulusi Local Municipality, the IFP captured Ward 12, eMondlo Kromellenboog, from the ANC with 63% of the vote, up from 46%. The ANC fell sharply from 52% to 20%, while MKP took 12%. The result leaves the IFP on 22 seats in a 45-seat council, one short of an outright majority.

Across the KwaZulu-Natal contests, MKP again showed growing support, finishing second in the two Nongoma wards and third in AbaQulusi. But the clearest story of the night in Zululand was the IFP’s ability to turn momentum into ward victories in terrain central to its support base.

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The ANC, meanwhile, had a mixed night in the Eastern Cape rather than a clean hold of its strongholds. It retained Ward 14, Mejela Luthulini, in Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality with 63% of the vote, slightly down from 65%. The South African Communist Party polled 12%, while the African Transformation Movement rose to 11%.

The ANC also held Ward 32 in Buffalo City Metro with 80% of the vote, up from 68%, while the EFF polled 12%. Reporting said the DA did not contest the ward.

But in the clearest Eastern Cape upset, the Patriotic Alliance won Ward 7, Asherville Aberdeen, in Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality from the ANC, taking 40% of the vote. The DA finished second on 34%, while the ANC fell to 20% from 46%. The PA’s strongest showing came in Asherville itself, where it won 57% of the vote on a high turnout.

PA member and former Sports ministerial spokesperson Cassiday Rangata-Jacobs welcomed the victory as a prelude to the party’s road to the local elections. “The mood is celebratory in the Eastern Cape Beyers Naudé Municipality where the mighty, mighty Patriotic Alliance has won another ward! Vision 2026 is here! Sorry DA, Sorry ANC – Ons Baiza Niks!” Rangata-Jacobs said.

The by-elections, contested by 28 candidates from 12 political parties and two independents, were triggered largely by councillor resignations and deaths across the affected municipalities.

Overall, the results point to a shifting political landscape at the local level. The IFP’s strong showing in KZN positions it as a major contender heading into 2026, while the MKP’s steady gains suggest it could play a kingmaker role in future councils.

The ANC’s mixed performance, resilient in the Eastern Cape but weakening in parts of KZN, highlights the uneven nature of its support base.

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One person was killed and three others injured after being struck by lightning during severe storms that swept parts of KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) said on Monday.

In Mzimkhulu in the Harry Gwala District, a resident of Ward 15 was struck and killed by lightning while at work on Friday, said COGTA.  

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In a separate incident in Ward 12, three individuals sustained injuries from lightning strikes and were receiving medical attention, it said.

KZN COGTA MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi deployed provincial disaster management teams to the Harry Gwala and uMgungundlovu districts after storms that began on Friday and continued through Saturday caused widespread damage, including hail and gale-force winds, the department said.

In Impendle Local Municipality in uMgungundlovu District, 12 households were “severely affected,” including 18 children and two senior citizens, with seven homes completely destroyed, leaving four families destitute. Food parcels, blankets and hygiene kits were being distributed with the provincial Department of Social Development, it said.

In Harry Gwala District, at least 11 homes were damaged by hail, while a rockfall in Ward 1 blocked road access, the department said.

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“Our priority is the safety and dignity of those who have lost everything in these storms,” said Buthelezi. “We are fast-tracking the provision of building materials and temporary shelter to ensure that no family is left exposed to the elements. We remain in a state of high alert.”

The department said that saturated ground increased the risk of secondary incidents, including further rockfalls and the collapse of compromised structures.  

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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has told provincial leaders to discourage “thuggish behaviour” and realign with their core service-delivery mandate in order to spur on social cohesion and moral regeneration in the province.

Speaking at a moral regeneration and social cohesion workshop on Wednesday in Durban, Ntuli said the province had been marred by “man-made” dysfunctionalities in recent years, including financial mismanagement and corruption.

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“Social cohesion and moral regeneration are not fixed destinations, but ongoing processes that must respond to changing realities, emerging challenges and new opportunities,” he said.

Attending the workshop were MECs, mayors, academics, government officials, traditional leaders and faith-based leaders.

The event, according to the premier’s office, aimed to promote an environment where social cohesion was sought after and implemented, in order to spur moral regeneration.

“Our task is not to discard what has been done, but to build upon it thoughtfully and critically. By engaging the document in this way, we ensure continuity, relevance and shared ownership — key ingredients for a strategy that can advance social cohesion and moral regeneration in our province,” said Ntuli.

He also appealed to the council to apply their individual experiences — characterised by memories of struggle, moments of progress, and lessons learned through hardship and resilience — to create a “thriving environment” for those they are entrusted to lead.

“This collective experience is not incidental, it is one of the most valuable resources we have in confronting the challenges of social fragmentation and moral decline,” Ntuli said.

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Ntuli paid homage to the previous council, which launched the strategy now under review.

“[The strategy document] reflects the social, political and economic conditions that prevailed at the time of its formulation. As well as the priorities and concerns that shaped the thinking of the council then. Appreciating this context, it is essential if we are to engage with the document responsibly and constructively. At the same time we must accept that the society we are dealing with is dynamic and constantly evolving,” he said.

Ntuli said sustainable dialogue was a key aspect of building a thriving, solution-oriented environment, characterised by mutual respect and dignity.

“Sustainable dialogue means creating safe and conducive space where communities can speak honestly about their lived experiences. It requires that we listen not only to voices we agree with but also to those that challenged us. Such dialogues must be ongoing, not episodic and must be anchored in a commitment of dignity, justice and common good,” Ntuli said.

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A farmer was arrested after being caught driving at 199 km in a 120 km zone along one of KwaZulu-Natal’s highways.

The arrest was carried out by the Park Rynie Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) team as part of the ongoing campaign labelled operation #NenzaniLaEzweni.

KwaZulu‑Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, confirmed the arrest and highlighted the province’s investment in advanced speed monitoring systems.

“We are restoring law and order across all corners of the province. We have introduced the Average Speed‑Over‑Distance in various road networks and strategically placed two cameras. One at the beginning and one at the end of a designated road stretch,” Duma said.

Duma explained that the system worked by capturing the vehicle’s presence at each camera point and calculating the time taken to travel the distance.

This allowed authorities to determine whether a driver exceeded the legal speed limit.

“We are investing in this technology as part of ending fatalities on our roads, which are caused by speeding and reckless driving,” Duma said.

The farmer is expected to face charges of reckless and negligent driving.

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The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has endorsed uMngeni-Uthukela Water’s newly tabled R22 billion five-year capital expenditure plan, but warned that its success hinges on whether the utility can muster the technical, managerial and governance muscle to deliver.

The remarks were made during a three-day oversight visit across KwaZulu-Natal this week, where committee members also grilled the entity over several negative media reports highlighting alleged governance lapses, questionable sponsorships, and board conduct.

“We hope that the utility has the right skills to match the plan, to ensure that it is effectively implemented. Infrastructure development is critical in driving economic growth, and the full implementation of the plan is necessary,” said Sello Dithebe, acting chairperson of the committee.

“South Africa suffers from the problem of great plans but deficient implementation,” the committee said in a statement.

The acting CEO of the Pietermaritzburg-based utility, Thami Mkhwanazi, told the committee it was sufficiently capacitated.

“Over the past three financial years we have been performing over 80 % in rolling out infrastructure projects. We are relatively confident that we will be able to implement the plan,” he said.

Beneath that confidence, however, is a shadow of credibility risk, said the committee, while pointing to a “flurry” of recent media exposes that have ignited scrutiny over the utility’s governance practices.

Among the accusations is that the chairperson of the subsidiary, uMngeni Water Services, was removed after failing to declare ownership interests in a company that did business with the entity.

Also under scrutiny is a controversial overseas sponsorship. According to a Sunday Times report, the utility funded a supply-chain official’s trip to compete in the New York Marathon last year, at a cost of about R125 000, which included registration and accommodation fees and additional first-class airfare.

Water and Sanitation Committee member Malebo Kobe said: “Surely there is something wrong with the sponsorship policy if the entity can spend so much money for only one official. The entity must provide the committee with comprehensive answers as to reasons behind it approving such expenditure.”

The utility has defended the costs, saying the sponsorship was within its policy and that it was “not clandestine” as “even the criteria for selecting eligible beneficiaries” was available for “anyone to scrutinise”.

But the saga has drawn added attention as reports emerged earlier this year that board members paid themselves some R2.6 million in so-called “excess hours” fees.

uMngeni-Uthukela told the committee that the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, had “expressed the intention to institute an investigation into governance challenges” at the entity.

The committee said the investigation must be expedited. “While not seeking to pre-empt the outcomes of the proposed investigation, the committee emphasised that the utility’s credit rating is of national importance and must be actively protected to ensure its long-term viability,” Dithebe said.

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Thapelo Mpatlanyane

uMngeni Local Municipality has been ranked the top municipality in KwaZulu-Natal for ensuring households have access to essential services, according to the Provincial Spatial Integration Report 2024/25.

The report, released by the KwaZulu-Natal government, measures how well municipalities provide residents with basic services and socio-economic opportunities.

uMngeni achieved a 93.75% access score, which reflects the percentage of households with access to sufficient water, basic sanitation, refuse removal, electricity for lighting, housing and environmental health, safe and healthy living environments, healthcare services, and food security.

Mayor Christopher Pappas welcomed the results, saying they are proof of the municipality’s commitment to improving the daily lives of residents.

“This ranking is a reflection of the hard work of our council, administration, and community partners in ensuring that residents of uMngeni live with dignity, security, and access to the most basic services. While there is still work to be done, we are proud to be leading the way in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.

The municipality said the ranking underlines that access is a cornerstone of socio-economic development, and that its performance shows how strategic investment and good governance can improve living conditions.

uMngeni reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the standard while continuing to invest in infrastructure upgrades, expanding service delivery, and creating what it described as a healthier, more inclusive environment for all communities.

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