MEDIA STATEMENT

05 November 2026

KZN LEGISLATURE MOURNS THE PASSING OF ADVOCATE MODIBEDI ERIC PHINDELA, SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature has received, with profound shock and deep sadness, the news of the passing of Advocate Modibedi Eric Phindela, Secretary to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Advocate Phindela was a dedicated and distinguished public servant whose unwavering commitment, patriotism and exemplary leadership made an immeasurable contribution to the growth and strengthening of South Africa’s legislative sector and democratic institutions. Throughout his career, he served the nation with distinction, integrity and humility, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues across Parliament and the broader legislative fraternity.

As the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, we lower our banner in honour of a servant of the people whose life was defined by service to the nation and the advancement of constitutional democracy. We trust that his remarkable legacy, commitment to excellence and selfless service will continue to inspire present and future generations of leaders within the legislative sector.

At this difficult time, we reflect on the enduring impact of his work and recommit ourselves to upholding the values and principles that guided his distinguished career. The most fitting tribute we can pay is to emulate his dedication to public service and to carry forward the work to which he devoted his life.

On behalf of the Members and staff of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, the Speaker, Hon. Nontembeko Boyce, extends heartfelt condolences to the Speaker of Parliament, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, the leadership and staff of Parliament, the NCOP, and the entire legislative sector.

We also extend our deepest sympathies to Advocate Phindela’s family, friends and loved ones. During this time of profound loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you. May you find comfort, strength and solace in the tremendous legacy he leaves behind.

May his soul rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to live on in the institutions and people he so faithfully served.

Ends

Issued by:

Ms Nerusha Naidoo

Secretary to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature

04 November 2026

KZN LEGISLATURE MOURNS THE PASSING OF ERIC PHINDELA, SECRETARY OF THE NCOP

It is with the greatest shock and sadness that we have learned of the passing of our dedicated, committed, patriotic servant of our nation and the Legislative Sector, who for his service, contributed immensely to the development of our legislative branch of our democracy.
We dip our banner in honour of this servant of the nation, and hope that his passing and the service to the nation will inspire and nurture greater leadership in the sector.

Our duty is to emulate his legacy and honour the hard work and the service that he dedicated to the public service and the country.
As the KZN Legislature, we convey our heartfelt condolences to the Speaker of Parliament, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and the entire leadership of the National Parliament and the NCOP.

To his family, we are deeply saddened by this loss and grief and we are praying for your comfort.

May his legacy and eternal memory live.
Ends
Issued by the KZN LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATIONS

Today, the KwaZulu-Natal legislature held its final two civic voter education sessions in Ugu District marking the conclusion of a 14-month initiative aimed at empowering the electorate ahead of the November 4 elections.

The KwaZulu-Natal legislature launched its Civic Voter Education programme in August last year to help communities gain access to essential services, including the acquisition of identity documentation.

The program also provided them with essential information regarding voter registration and the importance of participating in elections. 

Led by Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs), the initiative was executed in close collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). 

The highly attended activations spanned every district in the province, reaching thousands of citizens. As a direct result of this partnership, the IEC registered numerous new voters, while Home Affairs processed thousands of identity document (ID) applications.

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker, Ms Nontembeko Boyce, stated that the programme’s impact far exceeded expectations.

“Today, we conclude what has been a highly impactful programme accessed by thousands of our people,” said Speaker Boyce.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to all Members of the Legislature and the officials who were at the forefront of driving this initiative. Our partners, the Department of Home Affairs and the IEC, also did a superb job.”

Public education is a core constitutional mandate of the Legislature, aimed at enhancing public involvement in democratic processes.

“Through this campaign, we have successfully encouraged citizens—particularly first-time voters—to take an active role in shaping their future,” Speaker Boyce added.

“We now urge everyone who has not yet collected their IDs to do so immediately at their nearest Home Affairs office, ensuring they are ready to vote in the upcoming elections scheduled for the 4th of November this year.”

All political parties represented in the Legislature have been part of this democratic process of ensuring that all eligible voters are mobilised to participate in the elections.

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE

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PUBLIC STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
22 September 2026

NEWCASTLE WATER CRISIS REQUIRES URGENT PROVINCIAL INTERVENTION

The prolonged water crisis affecting communities in Newcastle now requires urgent intervention and support from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Some residents have endured approximately 10 days without a stable reticulated water supply, placing significant strain on households, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and other institutions.

Newcastle Municipality has now provided an update confirming that the affected pump station is operational, but below full capacity. Of the three pumps serving the system, two are operational while the third remains under repair.

The Municipality has further advised that the affected reservoir has a capacity of approximately 10 million litres and needs to reach at least 70% capacity before water can be distributed more effectively across the network. Additional contractors have also been brought in, while water tankers continue to provide interim relief.

This update provides greater clarity on the current operational situation. However, several important questions remain unanswered.

Residents need to know exactly what caused the prolonged failure, what damage or fault affected the third pump, why the repair remains outstanding and what is delaying its return to service.

There must also be clarity on whether vandalism or deliberate damage contributed to the failure, whether critical water infrastructure is adequately secured, whether replacement parts or specialist technical expertise are difficult to obtain, and whether the Municipality has sufficient engineering and technical capacity to resolve the problem.

The deployment of additional contractors, technicians, engineers and water tankers also carries an additional financial cost. It is therefore important that there is transparency regarding the extent of the repairs required, the resources being deployed and the expected cost of restoring the system to full capacity.

Most importantly, residents still need a clear and credible timeframe for when normal reticulated water supply will be fully restored.

Water tankers remain necessary as an emergency measure and must continue for as long as communities require them. They cannot, however, become a substitute for the restoration of a functioning and reliable municipal water system.

A key question now is whether Newcastle Municipality has sufficient technical, operational and financial capacity to resolve the situation on its own, or whether additional provincial support is required.

I am therefore requesting that KZN CoGTA MEC Rev. Thulasizwe Buthelezi urgently engage with Newcastle Municipality, assess the full extent of the disruption and determine whether additional provincial technical, financial or institutional support is required.

Communities should be provided with an accurate and detailed report setting out the cause of the failure, the outstanding repairs, any obstacles delaying completion, the resources required and a realistic timeframe for full restoration.

After approximately 10 days of disruption, residents are entitled to clear, accurate and regular information.

The immediate priority must be to ensure that every reasonable technical and government resource is directed towards restoring a stable and reliable water supply as urgently as possible.

Issued by Hon. Marlaine Nair, MPL
Chairperson: CoGTA Portfolio Committee
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature

KWAZULU-NATAL COGTA CHAIR NOTES UMDONI MUNICIPALITY COURT JUDGMENT

Ms. Marlaine Nair, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), notes the High Court ruling regarding the ongoing dispute over the Acting Municipal Manager position at Umdoni Local Municipality.

The court struck the application filed by the MEC for COGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, from the roll. The presiding judge ruled that the MEC’s founding affidavit was inadmissible and determined that the criteria for urgent legal intervention had not been met.

In response to the ruling, Nair stated:
“Crucially, this judgment does not provide a final resolution to the ongoing dispute regarding the administrative leadership of Umdoni Municipality. From an oversight standpoint, the persistent instability is troubling. A municipality cannot operate effectively while there is continued uncertainty surrounding one of its most senior administrative roles, and as long as disputes over its leadership remain a recurring matter for the courts.”

Nair added that residents of Umdoni required certainty, lawful decision-making and stable administrative leadership.
“Political and administrative disagreements cannot be allowed to undermine the functioning of the municipality or the delivery of services. The CoGTA Portfolio Committee will continue to monitor developments at Umdoni and the steps being taken to restore stability and proper governance.”

She said ultimately the focus must remain on a municipality that is properly governed and able to deliver services to its residents.

COGTA COMMITTEE DEMANDS MEASURABLE RESULTS AFTER YEARS OF INTERVENTIONS AT UTHUKELA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature concluded its Section 132 hearing on uThukela District Municipality with a clear concern that fundamental financial, governance, and service-delivery issues persist despite years of government intervention and support.

uThukela has received seven consecutive qualified audit opinions. The information before the Committee also reflected approximately R1.2 billion in gross consumer debt, R1.314 billion in accumulated unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and water losses of 65%.

These are not simply figures in financial reports. They ultimately affect the municipality’s ability to deliver its most important responsibility – reliable water and sanitation services.

The Committee heard that communities continue to depend on water tankers where permanent infrastructure is inadequate or unavailable. We have therefore directed the municipality to provide a transparent water-tanker distribution plan showing which communities depend on tankers, how they are allocated and, importantly, what permanent solutions are planned.

The municipality must also provide quarterly targets for reducing the 65% water loss and report on the compliance status of each of the eight wastewater areas identified by the Auditor-General.

Another serious concern is revenue management. Of 982 accounts investigated for recording zero water consumption, all were found to be consuming services and 583 were incorrectly billed at zero. The Committee wants to know what has happened to those accounts, how many meters have been repaired, replaced or relocated, what work remains and what measures are being implemented to recover revenue lost as a result of zero billing.

We have also called for answers on the Ezakheni pumps, including the status of the criminal case, the current whereabouts of the pumps and the costs associated with their assessment and repair.

But one of the biggest questions arising from this hearing goes beyond individual failures.

uThukela has been subjected to successive interventions and support measures involving different spheres of government and institutions. These have included Section 139 intervention, intensified Section 154 support and the Section 63 intervention in water and sanitation.

The Committee has therefore asked CoGTA to explain the basis for moving uThukela from Section 139 intervention to intensified Section 154 support and, critically, to identify the single coordinating authority responsible for the various interventions and support programmes at uThukela.

We need to know who is ultimately responsible for ensuring that these interventions work together, that commitments are implemented and that progress is measured.

The Committee has also demanded a comprehensive account of consequence management, identifying who has been held accountable, the disciplinary action taken, financial recoveries made, matters referred to law enforcement and the outcomes of any prosecutions or other legal processes.

Governance must also function effectively. The Committee has requested a report on the effectiveness of Council oversight, including councillor attendance, the working relationship between Council and the administration, the handling of questions submitted by councillors and whether MPAC is functioning effectively as an accountability mechanism.

CoGTA must separately report on all Section 106 investigations relating to uThukela, including their findings, recommendations and outcomes, as well as reasons for delays where investigations remain outstanding.

The concern is no longer whether uThukela has received enough plans, support or intervention. There have been many.

The question is what has actually changed as a result.

After seven consecutive qualified audits, success cannot be measured by meetings held, committees established or action plans produced.

It must be measured by water losses coming down, wastewater facilities becoming compliant, revenue being correctly billed and collected, financial stability improving, wrongdoing resulting in consequences and communities receiving reliable services.

That is the measurable progress the Committee will now expect to see when the municipality and CoGTA report back on the resolutions arising from this hearing.

COGTA PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE FOLLOWS UP ON MSUNDUZI GOVERNANCE AND SUPPORT MEASURES

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s CoGTA Portfolio Committee is following up on resolutions arising from its Section 132 hearing with Msunduzi Municipality on 5 August 2026, amid recent developments concerning governance, administration and service delivery.

During the hearing, the Committee raised a number of concerns and adopted resolutions requiring further reporting and corrective action.

Since then, further concerns have emerged publicly around governance and administrative capacity, including the qualifications of certain senior officials and recent labour instability which disrupted service delivery.

The Committee has also received a submission from the Msunduzi Municipal Audit Committee dated 26 August 2026, raising concerns regarding the backlog and non-processing of reports before Council and MPAC, including matters involving internal audit, forensic investigations, material irregularities and governance.

Several of these issues intersect directly with matters already raised during the Committee’s Section 132 process.

During the hearing, the Committee was also informed that cooperation from the Municipality with the Premier’s Msunduzi Working Group had been a challenge. The Committee was subsequently advised that the Working Group had resumed its work.

As we approach one month since the hearing, I have written to the MEC for CoGTA requesting a consolidated progress report on the implementation of the Committee’s resolutions, the progress of the Premier’s Msunduzi Working Group and the Section 154 support being provided to the Municipality.

The Committee wants to establish whether cooperation has improved, what measurable progress has been achieved since the Working Group resumed its work, and how the Premier’s Working Group and Section 154 support are being coordinated.

It is important that the different support measures work together effectively, with clear responsibilities and accountability for outcomes.

The question for the Committee is therefore not simply what support structures are in place, but whether they are working, whether they are working together and whether they are producing measurable improvements in governance, administration and service delivery.

Our responsibility as a Portfolio Committee is not only to identify concerns, but to follow through on resolutions and commitments and assess whether corrective measures are producing results.

The Committee will consider the reports submitted to it and determine whether any further oversight action is required.

ENDS

Issued by:
Hon. Marlaine Nair, MPL
Chairperson: Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature

RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT DELIVERS RESULTS AS MADADENI CLOTHING AND TEXTILE HUB REACHES COMPLETION

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Tourism has welcomed the remarkable turnaround at the Madadeni Clothing and Textile Hub in Newcastle, describing its completion as evidence that rigorous legislative oversight, coupled with a responsive and capable developmental state, can deliver tangible results for communities.

When the Committee conducted oversight at the facility in 2024, construction had stalled amid funding constraints and disruptions, placing the future of this strategic public investment at risk. The Committee raised serious concerns and demanded corrective action.

During a follow-up oversight visit on 26 August 2026, the Committee found a fundamentally transformed project. Construction has been completed, modern machinery and equipment have been installed, and the facility has emerged as a state-of-the-art hub ready to transition from infrastructure development to full-scale textile and apparel production.

Committee Chairperson, Honourable Mafika Sangweni, said the turnaround demonstrates why legislative oversight must ultimately be measured by improvements in the lives of citizens.

“Where we previously encountered a stalled project, today we walked into a state-of-the-art productive facility. This is oversight producing results. The purpose of oversight is not merely to identify what is wrong, but to ensure that what is wrong is corrected and that public resources ultimately produce measurable developmental outcomes.”

Hon. Sangweni commended the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and Ithala, a state entity and the implementing agent, for responding decisively to the matters raised by the Committee and ensuring that the project reached completion.

“The role played by Ithala is particularly significant. It demonstrates that public institutions, when properly governed, capacitated and held accountable, can be effective instruments of economic transformation. This is the essence of a capable developmental state: a state that does not merely regulate economic activity from a distance, but possesses the institutional capacity to intervene strategically, build productive assets and expand economic opportunity.”

The Committee stressed, however, that completing the infrastructure represents only the first phase of success. The next test will be whether this investment becomes a functioning centre of production, industrial development and employment.

“The machinery must now produce, enterprises must grow, skills must be developed and markets must be opened. This facility must become a centre for textile and apparel production, SMME incubation, localisation and skills development, with particular emphasis on opportunities for women and young people in Madadeni and the broader Amajuba District.”

Hon. Sangweni said the Madadeni facility must ultimately contribute to rebuilding local productive capacity and ensuring that public investment generates sustainable economic activity.

“A developmental state must be visible in the material conditions of its people. It must transform public resources into productive capacity, productive capacity into enterprises, and enterprises into sustainable jobs. What now stands in Madadeni demonstrates what coordinated state intervention, backed by rigorous oversight, can achieve.”

The Portfolio Committee will continue exercising oversight over the operationalisation of the Hub to ensure that the investment moves beyond the completion of buildings and equipment and delivers sustainable production, market access, growing enterprises and long-term employment.

ISSUED BY:
HONOURABLE MAFIKA SANGWENI
CHAIRPERSON: PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE