THE FUSE

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

KwaMashu: ANC leaders are turning to churches for the renewal of the organisation after it lost KwaZulu-Natal Province in the 2024 general elections for the first time since 2004. On Sunday, the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Nomsa Dube-Ncube, who is the former KZN ANC Treasurer, attended the Palm Sunday Service of the United Congregation Church in her township of KwaMashu to worship with them as part of bringing back the ANC to the people. She said that she attended the service as part of the ANC Renewal Programme. Dube-Ncube lost her premiership post in KZN to IFP’s Thami Ntuli after her organisation lost power during the general elections that were held in June 2024.

Durban: The Durban High Court has on Tuesday dismissed Mr Calvin Mathibeli’s leave to appeal with punitive costs. Mathibeli had sought to appeal the 27 February 2026 judgment which gave him 24 hours to remove all defamatory posts which he had made about Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on social media, websites and digital media. Mathibeli, who was ordered to pay all legal costs, was also prohibited from repeating false accusations he had made about Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi. The defamatory, character-assassinating allegations made by Mr Mathibeli had the potential to tarnish the image of both Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi and the entire police service in KwaZulu-Natal. Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi has welcomed the judgment, saying that it is a valuable lesson to loose-tongued individuals who recklessly defame others with no proof.

eThekwini: eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba tabled the city’s R74.7-billion draft budget for the 2026/27 financial year at a Full Council meeting held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Tuesday. The draft budget will now be released for public consultation across all sectors of society. Following a comprehensive engagement process and consideration of stakeholder inputs, the final budget is expected to be adopted in May 2026. The proposed budget totals R74.7-billion, comprising an operating budget of R68.8-billion and a capital budget of R5.9-billion. Mayor Xaba noted that the budget is grounded in principles of sustainability, realistic revenue projections and the implementation of projects that are ready for rollout.

Pictured above: Following her organisation’s defeat in KwaZulu-Natal and the loss of the premiership to IFP leader Thami Ntuli, former KZN Premier Dr Nomsa Dube turned to the church as a means of seeking renewal for the ANC.

Image source:Tiktok