New South Africa | Kwazulu-Natal.com

Rats infest Durban CBD because of uncollected rubbish on the streets, Business and tourism now being threatened

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Durban – Traders in the City centre say their businesses and health have been affected by the huge rat population that has continued to grow because of uncollected rubbish on the streets.

They say there has been an overall decline in business and tourism while the condition of buildings has also deteriorated. Areas popular with hawkers such as Warwick Junction Market, Mahatma Gandhi precinct, Berea and Durban Workshop taxi ranks as well as bus terminals have been most affected.

Pinky Nyathela, who trades at the Warwick Junction Market, said the number of rats had tripled since she began trading in 2016. “There are more rats than usual and they are becoming bigger. They are not scared of people, they look straight at you,” she said.

Health experts said the rat infestation posed a great risk which could “explode” if not brought under control.

“The city hasn’t been very good in dealing with this problem. Rats can spread ove
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Mayor who faced Sindiso Magaqa murder charges elected as KZN deputy speaker – How is this even possible?

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The appointment of Mluleki Ndobe as deputy speaker in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Wednesday has ruffled feathers.

The provincial legislature sat for the first time on Wednesday for the swearing-in of Sihle Zikalala as premier, as well as speakers and new MPLs.

Zikalala hailed his election as a responsibility to serve the people of the province, rather than a position. Delivering his acceptance speech after being sworn in by KZN judge president Achmat Jappie in the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, Zikalala pledged that he would not disappoint the people.

“I’m conscious of the fact that this is not a position but rather a responsibility to serve our people,” he said.

Zikalala, who takes over from outgoing premier Willies Mchunu, also called on various political parties in the legislature to work together for the people of the province.

“We’re coming from different political p
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Estimated 5 000 workers to lose their jobs at Tongaat Hulett in KZN as property giant restructures its business, its not known whether restructuring will be BEE compliant

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The sugar and property giant is the largest employer on the lower North Coast and one of the largest in the province.

An estimated 5 000 workers are set to lose their jobs as South African agriculture and property giant Tongaat Hulett restructures its business, North Coast Courier reports.

The beleaguered company would not confirm the actual number of retrenchments, but informed sources said the workforce totalling 30 000 would be cut by about 16 per cent, or 5 000 jobs.

The company is the largest employer on the lower North Coast and one of the largest in the province.

Recently appointed CEO Gavin Hudson initiated a comprehensive assessment of Tongaat’s finances by accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers amid reports of financial anomalies which saw the company’s value drop to the lowest level in two decades.

The share price has fallen from around R80 last August to R20.16 this week.

The company’s problems have been
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eThekwini mayor Zandile, ally of former president Jacob Zuma, in hot water over R25 million toilet scam

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eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede will be appearing in the regional commercial crimes court in Durban on Tuesday, in what is expected to become one of the most high-profile corruption cases in recent years.

Gumede is expected to be handing herself over to the Hawks, following which she will be appearing in court on a string of corruption-related charges.

City Press understands that Gumede (58) will be appearing alongside senior municipal councillor Mondli Mthembu on charges including money laundering, corruption and racketeering.

“She will then apply for bail which the state is not intending to oppose,” said a senior law enforcement official privy to the details.

Another senior law enforcement official told City Press this evening: “It is finally happening. I am told that they are bringing a big team of heavy-hitting lawyers. It had all been planned to happen quietly without the knowledge of the media.”

City Press has learnt t
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Sh*thole country? – Swimming, surfing and fishing banned in Durban due to raw sewage in water – surf contest, been called to protect the safety and health of surfers

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Swimming, surfing and fishing have been banned in Durban due to raw sewage in the water. Hundreds of thousands of litres of raw sewage is flowing into the port every hour.

The eThekwini municipality’s health unit, on Thursday, ordered the City’s parks, recreation and culture department to ban all bathing on Durban’s beaches until further notice.

An associated letter circulated by Transnet National Ports Authority, states that the “severe sewage discharge” stems from the “failure of pumps at the eThekwini municipality’s Mahatma Gandhi Pump Station” – one of the deepest and biggest waste treatment facilities in the city.

Diving operations, essential to the port’s ship repair precinct, as well as all fishing in the Port of Durban have also been suspended.

“Given the potential threat of infection to diving personnel, we have taken the decision to suspend all diving operations,&#822
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SA taxpayers will now have to fork out an extra R9 million over the next three years, in the face of tough economic challenges, to sustain the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s lavish lifestyle

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The budget for Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s royal household has become a sticking point over the years.

As KwaZulu-Natal’s Treasury continues to trim the fat within the provincial fiscus in line with Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s austerity measures, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s royal household budget will see an estimated increase of about R9 million over the next three years, bringing his overall budget allocation to R75 million.

KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Belinda Scott delivered the provincial Budget for the medium-term expenditure in the Legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday afternoon.

Over R130 billion has been allocated in the fiscus for the 2019/2020 budget period.

The budget for King Zwelithini’s royal household has become a sticking point over the years, with an outcry over what the money for this item in the fiscus gets used for in the face of tough economic challenges.

For the 2019/2020 budget period, the royal house budget will ge
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R200 mill of drought relief monies intended for KwaZulu Natal gone missing – South Africa’s farmers find themselves in a crisis and as a result, our country’s food security and economy are also in crisis

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The FF Plus is shocked and disgusted by the news that nearly R220 million, which was earmarked for drought relief in KwaZulu Natal, went missing. It is unclear how the money went missing and the FF Plus demands an urgent investigation into the matter so that the guilty parties can be called to account.

The drought has already taken its toll on the agricultural sector with livestock deaths and poor harvests being at the order of the day. There have been enormous livestock losses in the Free State, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape in particular and some of these parts have not had any rain since November 2017.

The government must urgently prioritise drought relief for commercial as well as emerging farmers. The government must also ensure that the process is managed properly so that the money allocated to drought relief is not stolen, as is the case in KwaZulu Natal.

There are cases where service providers were appointed by means of a tender process
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eThekwini slams those opposed to R20m statues as being against black unity – Taxpayers in Durban will have to cough up for the erection of two new statues of terrorists worth R20m to promote black unity in the province

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Two new statues of terrorists will cost Durban taxpayers R20m. The erection of the statues is alleged to promote black unity in the province. However to the cost of whom?

The municipality believe that terrorists Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo will be “honored” in this way and will encourage to promote black unity.

The previous four statues of Mandela, Mbeki, Zuma and Ramaphosa cost the taxpayer approximately R1,9 million.

Experts believe the amount of R20m for two further statues is excessive, and believes it is unfair to tax citizens while worshiping these terrorist worship.

Photo: Previous four statues of Mandela, Mbeki, Zuma and Ramaphosa

Read the original article in Afrikaans on Die Vryburger
This report does not necessarily reflects the opinion of SA-news.

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President of the rainbow nation looks like he is scared of Natal and has canceled planned visits due to tension in some ranks

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Ramaphosa canceled his planned visit to Pietermaritzburg due to dormant tension in some ranks.

Members of Natal’s executive council state that there is a likelihood that tension between ANC members in the area may worsen and degenerate into chaos.

It would apparently be an “embarrassment” for the president of the country. Tension between Zuma supporters and Ramaphosa supporters has been dormant for some time now and has now become more evident with the controversial and bankrupt ANC Youth League who have announced their support for Jacob Zuma.

Read the original article in Afrikaans on Die Vryburger
This report does not necessarily reflects the opinion of SA-news.

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Violent students wreak havoc about registration fees – Buildings are set on fire and chaos rules at KZN University

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The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, dr. Blade Nzimande, on Monday, sent a strong warning to protesting students who damaged university property. “The police must act quickly against any acts that result in violence or damage to public or private property. Vice-Chancellors of universities must also tighten up campus security and must take..
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