Zululand year in review – 2016

JOIN us as we take a look at the stories that this year captured hearts and the imagination, but also focused on real, hard-hitting issues affecting every member of our community:

January

Crucial year for rhinos – Conservationists hope the year will be a turning point for the rhino species, whose population have fallen dramatically and face a severe threat of extinction due to rampant poaching.

Matriculants pass and fail – Top matric learners across the province celebrate and are applauded for their academic achievements. However, celebrations are short-lived when the overall pass rate for the then uThungulu District is tallied. Coming in at a dismal 54.6%, District Education Director David Chonco called the result ‘nothing but shameful’.

Fairbreeze mine produces first ore – Conceived over 20 years ago and set to replace the Tronox Hillendale mine, the first load of titanium-rich ore is produced by the Tronox Fairbreeze mine.

New year, same old water woes – Water woes raise urgency- City of uMhlathuze water restrictions move from level 3 to level 4 with no foreseeable end to the drought, and the South African Weather Service predicts extreme, below-normal rainfall totals.

Lines down – A week-long telephone outage hits Richards Bay in the worst ever single incident of its kind in KZN after a 2400-pair main cable is accidentally destroyed by workers.

Kwambo seniors slain – Police discover David and Ann Strauss, 76 and 73, brutally murdered in their KwaMbonambi home.

Ground broken on long awaited R3.3-billion corridor road – Construction of the 55-kilometre P700 begins, to link Richards Bay to Ulundi via Empangeni and allow easier and safer travel for rural residents and tourists.

Major highway expansion project ready to roll – A 33km stretch of the N2 between Empangeni and the Mtunzini Toll is scheduled for a makeover, including a dual carriageway, widening of bridges and refurbishment of existing road.

 

February

Tides batter Alkantstrand – Two metres of dune barriers north of the main beach collapse under a battering of the spring tide, sparking massive erosion concerns.

District launches R20-million water project – As part of its plan to fast-track water delivery to rural areas, the uThungulu District (now King Cetshwayo) pioneered a water reticulation project, handing over pump stations and reservoirs at KwaHlokohlo in the uMlalazi Municipality.

Shocking KZN police death statistics – Figures revealed to the Zululand Observer put the number of policemen killed in KZN between April 2015 and January 2016 at 22.

Leopards have reprieve – The Department of Environmental affairs stops all permits for leopard hunting in KZN following a report by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

March

R125-million for hospitals upgrade – The KZN treasury announces R85-million and R40-million allocations for the Ngwelezana and Hlabisa hospitals respectively.

uMkhanyakude District in state of utter collapse – The removal of Bamba Ndwandwe as administrator of the district municipality reveals a report ascribing its troubles to financial mismanagement.

Urgent water transfer plan in pipeline – A special task team is appointed to fast-track the R250-million Tugela-Goedertrouw transfer scheme. The region’s most influential authorities estimate less than 200 days of water supply remaining and call upon relevant stakeholders to help alleviate the effects of the drought.

Scramble for calm at iSithebe – Discontent about the dysfunctional iSithebe Clinic and the prospect of Mandeni mayor Lawrence Magwaza running for mayor again lead to violent protests.

April

Fodder for Africa – The first shipment of fodder, a whopping 18 500 tons of yellow maize, arrives in Richards Bay to offset the crippling effects of the drought.

Kwambo killers plead guilty – Both suspect accused in the murder of Kwambonambi seniors David and Ann Strauss plead guilty.

Mine collapse – Three men, believed to be illegal miners, become entrapped in a collapsed Pongola’s Klipwal gold mine and are presumed dead.

R19-million luxury homes for Unizulu execs – The splurge is revealed at the Durban Labour Court, where the university’s Executive Director of Finance and whistle-blower, Josephine Naicker, sought protection. This was to become the first of many scandals uncovered at the university.

May

Nabbed! – Zululand’s most wanted criminal, Thobani Mthembu, is caught after a six-month manhunt.

Bay named SA’s fourth most expensive city – Global database, Expatistan, claims Richards Bay is more expensive than much larger cities in South Africa. uMhlathuze municipality denies the claim, saying the results are unreliable.

Highest road deaths in KZN – The province is thrust into the spotlight after 49 people die in accidents over a long weekend.

Rhino losses down – Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa announces the national rhino death toll has fallen over the first four months of the year, despite the loss of 363 rhinos.

Unemployment statistics bombshell – Statistics SA releases data highlighting a 2.2% increase, rising to 26.7%, in the unemployment rate for the first quarter.

June

Second degrees-for-sale scandal rocks Unizulu – A fake degree scam is unearthed at the university which was plagued by a similar scandal in 2007.

Empangeni taxi rank upgrade- A R5-million upgrade for the rank, also known as Lot 63, is given the go-ahead.

Coal terminal unveils R49-million lab – Richards Bay Coal Terminal boosts coal sampling with a state-of-the-art laboratory.

ConCourt rules IEC acted unlawfully – Local government elections are allowed to go ahead despite a ruling against the Independent Electoral Commission, stating its voter’s roll is defective.

A colossus is rising in Richards Bay – The tallest building in the city, located at the BMA Medical Centre, and set to be linked to Netcare the Bay Hospital via a 30-metre sky-bridge, shows progress.

 

July

Racism row shutdown – Owner of Sodwana Bay Guest House, Andre Slade, sparks controversy by barring ‘blacks and government employees’ from the establishment.

Highway shoot-out – More than a dozen men, armed with AK47s, R5 rifles and explosives intercept and rob a cash-in-transit vehicle between Ulundi and Nongoma.

Water bill bombshell – Zululanders are warned of severe consequences owing to the ongoing drought for a further two years. Domestic customers are limited to 15 kilolitres per month or face exponentially increasing tariffs for consuming larger amounts.

uThungulu name change given the green light – The district is officially renamed ‘King Cetshwayo District’ as off 26 July.

Another Unizulu executive shown the door – A top executive accepts a substantial settlement amid disputes over the termination of her employment, follow a number of top tier staff dismissed in dubious circumstances.

Ministers break ground for techno hub – KZN MEC for Finance, Belinda Scott, and MEC for Economic Development, Toursim and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikhalala, support the development of a R35-million techno hub in Richards Bay’s Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) industrial park.

August

Thanks a million – The annual Dice4DICE charity event exceeds the R1-million mark.

ANC retains control of uMhlathuze – The party also wins control of the King Cetshwayo district for the next five years, while the IFP wins in party strongholds, Ulundi and Nongoma.

Campus fraud shocker – The directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, confirm an investigation into Unizulu’s degrees-for-sale scam and Department of Higher Education Minister, Blazde Nzimande vows to act against those found behind the scam.

‘Get ready for load shedding’– 15 000 Eskom workers embark on a massive unprotected strike as wage talks between the power utility and unions fail.

Sugar industry under siege – A proposed 20% tax on sugar sweetened beverages sends shockwaves through the industry, which has already lost R1.4-billion in revenue over the previous year owing to the drought.

September

Slain in cold blood – A massive manhunt is sparked by the murder of Richards Bay Minerals’ Human Resource Manager, Ronny Nzimande, who was killed in his driveway after being shot 20 times by AK47 and 9mm rounds.

Poaching syndicate goes on trial – A syndicate believed to be responsible for as much as 80 percent of the rhino trade in KZN goes on trial at the Ngwelezana Regional Court.

Empangeni a top crime hot spot – Empangeni features as one of the top 10 worst crime precincts in KZN, according to statistics released by the SAPS and Stats SA.

IFP conquers Jozini – More than a month after local government elections, the IFP forms a coalition with the DA and EFF to wrest control of the municipality away from the ANC.

Lifesaving machines on the blink – Red tape delays potentially lifesaving cancer tests for hundreds of Zululand women at Ngwelezana Hospital.

Tugela transfer time frames set- Assurances are given that the Tugela water transfer scheme, at a cost of R407-million, will deliver water by November 2017.

October

Who killed Sibongiseni? – The 32-year-old is gunned down in a drive-by shooting on the John Ross Parkway, reportedly on his way to make a witness statement at the SAPS.

Coastline crumble continues – Metres of coastal dune barriers are once again destroyed at Alkantstrand, while authorities highlight the area to be in serious danger.

Sewage stinker – An environmental catastrophe ensues when tens of thousands of litres of sewage leak into the Mzingazi canal after a botched maintenance job.

Gas plant to revive Bay – The RBIDZ wastes no time in getting a 2000-megawatt liquefied natural-gas-to-power plant of the ground.

Plane crash victims – A German couple lose their lives in a plane crash near Jozini.

Bay desalination plant a first for province – South32 unveils a R72-million water desalination plant at Hillside Aluminium plant.

November

‘We just want to move on’ – A shock verdict by the Empangeni District Court reverberates through the community after John Frara is acquitted for the 2013 murder of his wife, Carolyn.

Paying the price – Industry and agriculture pay a heavy price under the prevailing drought, which drives up the cost of doing business by R560-million.

Fish farm first – Seven hectares at the Port of Richards Bay is leased for South Africa’s first fully commercial marine sea cage fin fish farm.

Danger zone – Richards Bay’s South Pier comes under scrutiny again after a second angler falls to his death while attempting to land a big catch.

Rise in KZN rhino poaching – KZN loses 132 Rhinos by November, of which 121 were White Rhinos and 11 Black Rhinos.

December

Chilling confession – ‘I know I’m spreading the HIV virus’ – HIV positive eSikhaleni sugar daddy spreads the virus to young girls.

Beach on red alert – Lifeguard shortage places lives at risk and angers community in Richards Bay.

High drama in Richards Bay – A man locks himself inside the driver’s enclosure of a construction crane, some 45 metres above the ground, and refuses to come out for almost an hour.

Mtubatuba mayor unveils Isimangaliso bridge – Mayor of Mtubatuba Municipality, Cllr Qhina MKhwanazi, assisted by Isimangaliso Wetlands Park’s CEO Andrew Zaloumis, opens the Bhangazi Berm Bridge on the Grasslands Loop road, which is an 18km long stretch of road through the park.

Increase in festive season road deaths – A total of 845 fatalities were recorded on South African roads between 1-19 December – a 17% increase compared to the previous year.