Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news.

Endumeni: The Democratic Alliance has threatened KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli with legal action over the growing crisis at Endumeni Local Municipality.

The party accuses Ntuli of failing to act after the northern KwaZulu-Natal municipality failed to pass its budget by the provincial Cabinet deadline of 31 July 2026.

The Democratic Alliance has also accused Ntuli of shielding the troubled municipality because it is governed by the Inkatha Freedom Party.

Ntuli is the provincial chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party.

KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance leader Sthembiso Ngema said on Wednesday that the provincial government must urgently provide a clear and lawful plan to deal with the crisis.

He said the plan must also have firm deadlines.

“Should this continued failure to act persist without adequate legal justification, we will seek legal advice on approaching the courts for appropriate relief to compel the Provincial Executive to fulfil its constitutional and statutory obligations and seek personal cost orders where necessary,” Ngema said.

The threat increases pressure on Ntuli and his provincial government to explain what action will be taken against Endumeni over its budget troubles.

Pietermaritzburg: A 40-year-old man has appeared in court on charges linked to the Firearms Control Act.

The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Stuart Scharnick made his first appearance in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court.

Scharnick faces a charge linked to Section 120(10)(a) of the Firearms Control Act.

The charge relates to claims that he gave a firearm to someone who was not legally allowed to possess it.

He also faces a charge under Section 25 of the Act.

This relates to the claimed failure to inform the Registrar of Firearms about a change of address where the firearm was being kept.

The case was postponed until 2 September 2026 for the court to consider bail.

uMkhanyakude: KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has slammed uMkhanyakude District Municipality over its plan to spend almost R15-million on water tankers.

The municipality published a notice outlining its intention to enter into a 36-month instalment sale agreement.

The deal would cost R14,619,714 for five specialised water tankers.

That works out to about R2.92-million for each vehicle.

Buthelezi described the planned purchase as unnecessary and financially irresponsible.

This comes after his department sent five water tankers to the district free of charge to help communities battling water shortages.

“Just this week, KZNCOGTA dispatched five water tankers free of charge to uMkhanyakude,” Buthelezi said.

“We covered Jozini, Big Five Hlabisa, Umhlabuyalingana and Mtubatuba. We did this precisely to alleviate the severe water crisis in the district without adding a single cent of debt to the community.”

The MEC’s criticism puts the municipality’s proposed spending under the spotlight as communities continue to struggle with access to water.

Pictured above: KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance leader Sthembiso Ngema, who has threatened legal action against Premier Thami Ntuli over the Endumeni Local Municipality budget crisis.

Image source: KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance