THE FUSE

Celani Sikhakhane brings you KwaZulu-Natal’s latest news

uMsinga: Maskandi fans have opened their hearts and wallets to help bury backup singer Sipho Gumu Gupta Mchunu.

Donations have been pouring in after Mchunu’s family appealed for financial help to give him a dignified funeral.

Mchunu was part of the stage crew of popular Maskandi artist Scebi Dlamini, better known as Inkosi yamaGcokama.

Both men died after a motor vehicle crash over the weekend while travelling to an event.

Their deaths have shocked Maskandi fans and brought supporters together to help their grieving families.

Ntokozo Hadebe said on Tuesday that donations were coming in as the Mchunu family continued preparing for the funeral.

Mchunu will be laid to rest in Msinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Friday.

Dlamini’s funeral will follow on Saturday.

The response from supporters has shown the strong spirit of Ubuntu among Maskandi fans, who have rallied behind the family during a difficult time.

Support is also being organised for fans who want to attend Dlamini’s funeral.

Taxi owners in Gauteng have announced plans to transport supporters to KwaZulu-Natal for the funeral on Saturday.

KwaCeza: Two more men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Community Policing Forum member Bonginkosi Mbatha.

The two suspects, both aged 30, were arrested during an intelligence driven police operation on Tuesday.

Mbatha, 51, was shot and killed at his home in the Sizana area of Ceza on 6 May 2026.

Police from the Zululand district followed information that led them to the first suspect in the Hlobane area.

Police said the man had gone there to visit his girlfriend.

The suspect then led officers to the KwaMnyathi area, where police found a firearm and ammunition that had been hidden.

Further investigations led police to a second suspect, who was arrested at a hideout in Ulundi.

The two men will join a 25-year-old suspect who was arrested shortly after Mbatha was killed.

N3, Pietermaritzburg: KwaZulu-Natal traffic officers have also taken action against abnormal load trucks travelling during dangerous weather.

The Road Traffic Inspectorate impounded an abnormal load truck on the N3 near the Mkondeni Weighbridge in Pietermaritzburg.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma criticised companies that allow abnormal loads onto roads during dangerous conditions.

The province has been dealing with snowfall and prolonged rainfall caused by a cut-off low pressure system.

Duma said abnormal load operations are not allowed during severe and dangerous weather conditions.

“As we are experiencing a cut-off low-pressure system that has triggered snowfall and prolonged rainfall, our priority is to minimise congestion along major routes,” he said.

Duma said traffic officers had been instructed to restrict the movement of abnormal load trucks under the province’s snowfall response plan.

He said the restrictions were aimed at preventing serious crashes and keeping major roads safer during the severe weather.

Pictured above: Maskandi backup singer Sipho Gumu Gupta Mchunu, who died alongside Scebi Dlamini and will be buried in Msinga on Friday.

Image source: Facebook.