2026 OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS (SOPA)

In keeping with our practice in KwaZulu-Natal, this year’s Official Opening of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature will take place over two days. The first day is dedicated to the Official Address to the Legislature by His Majesty King Misuzulu KaZwelithini who will deliver his message to the Members to mark the beginning of the Third Session of the Seventh KwaZulu-Natal Legislature. This is the 3rd official address by His Majesty under the government of provincial unity, and it is crucial in building and strengthening unity and cohesion in the province.

The second day is dedicated to the State of the Province Address (SOPA) by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Hon. AT Ntuli, who will outline the programme of action and priorities for the provincial government to be implemented during the current year (2026).

This year’s two-day event will be held at the Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. The decision to hold this session away from the Legislature precinct in the Pietermaritzburg CBD is primarily informed by space constraints in our chamber which cannot accommodate all the guests and the public. The current Legislature chamber can only accommodate 120 people in the public gallery, which will not cover the number of guests that attend the Official Opening of the Legislature.

These have been scheduled to take place as follows:

Dates:

26 February 2026 : Official Address by His Majesty King Misuzulu KaZwelithini,

27 February 2026: State of the Province Address (SOPA) by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Hon. AT Ntuli

Venue: Woodburn Rugby Stadium, Pietermaritzburg Time: 09H00

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the proceedings on both days. Media accreditation will be done as follows:

· 24 February 2026: Media briefing at the Public Works Offices Boardroom in Mayville, Durban from 14h00.

· 25 February 2026: Legislature Administration Building (Albertina Sisulu Building) from 10h00.

· 26 and 27 February 2026: Hosana Church, Woodhouse Road, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg from 8h00 to 9h00.

Issued by the KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information contact:

Sina Nxumalo: 0829060449

Wonder Hlongwa: 0829083532

Wesley Canham: 0833767299

Bongani Tembe: 0823272600

Joseph Cubai: 0605344187

The KZN health Portfolio Committee in its duty to perform oversight over healthcare facilities tomorrow, 19 February 2026, from 9am visit a rural Nkonjeni Hospital with 11 residential clinics attached to it. This will be followed by a visit to a 67 bed St. Francis Community hospital, a repurposed facility which serves as down referral for Nkonjeni hospital.

The chairperson Hon Imran Keeka emphasized the importance of this visit amid the proposed merger of the two facilities, a process which began in 2013. “It is important that we monitor successes and challenges of such complex merger as was proposed to improve the provision of healthcare for the benefit of our people”.

The Committee will receive a presentation from the Department of Public Works which will provide progress report on the upgrading of the facility, the delays that may have been   experienced, and various challenges encountered in the construction phases. This will give the Committee the opportunity to intervene where there is a need so that the project can finally be delivered to the expectations of the citizens.

Hon Keeka will be available to take media interviews.

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ISSUED BY KZN LEGISLATURE

For Enquiries contact:

DR I Keeka

Chairperson: Health Portfolio Committee

083 703 9135

Wesley Canham

Senior Practitioner Media liaison

0833767299

MEDIA ADVISORY

19 February 2026

KZN LEGISLATORS UNDERTAKE OVERSIGHT VISIT TO THE MULTI-BILLION RAND LOWER UMKHOMAZI BULK WATER SUPPLY SCHEME

Tomorrow, 19 February 2026, members of the KwaZulu-Natal Portfolio Committee for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) will visit a water supply facility designed to significantly increase water supply in eThekwini Municipality and Ugu District Municipality.

The Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply project is being implemented by water utility, uMngeni-uThukela Water and it is valued at over R20 billion. Members of the committee will inspect the progress that has been made at the Ngwadini Dam Off Channel Storage Project in Umdoni Municipality and the Goodenough Abstraction Works in eThekwini Municipality.

COGTA Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Mrs Marlaine Nair, said the visit was extremely important, adding that the mega water project would address severe water scarcity, which is having a major impact on daily life and the economy.

The media is invited to cover tomorrow’s inspection which will take place as follows:

FIRST VISIT

Date  : 19 February 2026

Site   : Ngwadini Dam Off Channel Storage Project, KwaQiko, Umdoni Municipality

Time : 9 am

SECOND VISIT

Date : 19 February 2026

Site  : Goodenough Abstraction Works, eThekwini Municipality’s Ward 99

Time: 12:30 midday

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF COGTA PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, MS MARLAINE NAIR

For enquiries contact Mr Bongani Tembe on 0823272600

13 February 2026

The KZN Legislature’s Human Settlements Portfolio Committee recently visited Jozini Municipality’s Military Veterans Housing Project as part of the committee’s oversight over the Department of Human Settlements.

The committee, led by Honourable Dr Andile Biyela, met with the leadership of the municipality, which included the mayor and officials from the Department of Human Settlements.

Members of the committee received reports from the municipality and the department about the status of housing projects in Jozini.

The committee also received reports about the devastating floods which took place in the Jozini area in January this year.

Jozini Local Municipality Disaster Manager Ayanda Gumede told the committee that 268 households were affected, involving 2444 people. She said that 176 houses were destroyed and 96 were partially damaged. The committee will discuss these issues at its next meeting with the Human Settlements Department.

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MEDIA STATEMENT

13 February 2026

KZN LEGISLATURE CONCLUDES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON KZN MONEY BILLS AMENDMENT PROCEDURE AND RELATED MATTERS BILL

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Finance Portfolio Committee wrapped up its public hearings today on the important piece of legislation, designed to enhance oversight over the provincial budget and to improve public participation on amendments of money bills.

The hearings were part of the legislative processes leading up to the introduction of the KwaZulu-Natal Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Bill, 2025 in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.

The bill establishes the procedure for amending money bills, such as the provincial budget and it enables the legislature to propose changes to spending. It also provides for the establishment of KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Budget Office to offer research and technical support. 

Public hearings were held in Amajuba and Ugu Districts to ensure that there is adequate public participation in the law-making process and that the quality of the proposed legislation is enhanced. Advertisements were also placed on media platforms inviting all interested parties to submit comments.

Summarizing the outcomes of the hearings, Finance Portfolio Committee Chairman, Honourable Mthandeni Dlungwana said that the public engagements were organized to allow citizens to voice support or opposition, provide expert and evidence-based inputs.

“We are happy as the committee that the people of KwaZulu-Natal have not only made concrete proposals or inputs to the bill, but they have also given it the green light. This paves the way for the finance committee to take the next step, which is tabling the bill in the House,” added Dlungwana.

Honourable Dlungwana said that the people of KwaZulu-Natal had thrown their weight behind the bill because it is designed to ensure that the provincial budget is more responsive to people’s needs. “People are expecting our proposed legislation to empower legislators to monitor and scrutinize how government departments and entities raise and spend taxpayers’ money. This is a cornerstone of hard-won democracy,” Dlungwana said. The closing date for submitting written comments is the 27th of February 2026.

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURECOMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE FINANCE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, HONOURABLE MTHANDENI DLUNGWANA 

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Human Settlements Portfolio Committee, led by Honourable Dr AC Biyela, will visit Jozini Municipality’s Military Veterans Housing Project as part of the committee’s oversight work over the Department of Human Settlements.

Members will first receive reports in a meeting scheduled to take place at the Jozini Local Municipality Council chambers before visiting the housing projects.

Details of the Oversight visit are as follows:

Date: 13 February 2026

Time: 9:30 am

Venue: Jozini Municipality Council Chambers

Members of the media are invited to attend and report accordingly.

Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information, please get in touch with Mr Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Finance Portfolio Committee intends to introduce the KZN Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Bill, aimed at enhancing oversight over the provincial budget as well as augmenting public participation on amendments of money bills.

Two public hearings have been organised to provide a platform for stakeholders and citizens to air their views on the bill. The hearings will take place in Dannhauser and Ray Nkonyeni municipalities this week.

Commenting ahead of the hearings, Finance Portfolio Committee Chairman, Honourable Mthandeni Dlungwana said the hearings were part of the comprehensive public involvement programme.

“We have also placed advertisements on media platforms inviting all interested parties to submit comments. This is a very important bill as it talks to enhancing exercising oversight over the public purse which is the constitutional mandate and functional responsibility of a legislature. The closing date for submitting comments is the 16th of February 2026,” added Dlungwana.

The public hearings are scheduled to take place as follows:

Date    : 11 February 2026

Venue : Dannhauser Town Hall

Time   : 10 am

Date   : 13 February 2026

Venue: Dlovinga Hall, Ray Nkonyeni Municipality

Time   : 10 am

Members of the media are invited to report on the hearings (attend physically or follow the proceedings on our social media platforms)

ISSUED BY THE LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, MR MTHANDENI DLUNGWANA

For enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600

MEDIA ADVISORY
1 February 2026

GAUTENG AND KWAZULU-NATAL MPLS TO JOINTLY VISIT CATALYTIC PROJECTS IN RICHARDS BAY, ETHEKWINI AND UMKHUZE THIS WEEK

Members of Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Environment will be in KwaZulu-Natal this week to share ideas and to learn best practices regarding oversight, law making and public participation.
The four-day-visit, which commences tomorrow and ends on Friday, also includes visits to the Dube Trade Port Economic Development Zone and the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone which play an important role of stimulating economic growth as well as attracting investments.
Commenting ahead of the visit by Gauteng Legislature legislators, the Chairperson of the Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Committee, Honourable Mafika Mndebele, said the sharing of ideas would help both institutions to execute their mandates effectively.
“We will spend the whole day at the KZN Legislature on Tuesday sharing with our colleagues from Gauteng how we execute our mandates. We will focus on oversight, law making and public participation. On Wednesday, we will be taking our colleagues to Mkuze Regional Airport and Hluhluwe Game Reserve. We will also visit the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone on Thursday and conclude our programme at the Dube Trade Port Economic Development Zone on Friday,” said Mndebele.
Members of the media are invited to cover all the activities which are scheduled as follows:

3 February 2026
Venue: Committee Room
Time : 8 am

4 February 2026
Venue : Mkuze Regional Airport
Time : 9am

5 February 2026
Venue: Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone offices
Time : 9am

6 February 2026
Venue: Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone
Time: 9am

ISSUED BY THE LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM, HONOURABLE, MAFIKA MNDEBELE
For interviews with Mr Mndebele, contact Mr Bongani Tembe on 0823272600

MEDIA ADVISORY

01 February 2026

THREE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO APPEAR BEFORE THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS ON TUESDAY THIS WEEK

Three provincial government departments will appear before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) this week to present updates on the implementation of key resolutions taken by the committee in November last year.

The resolutions were taken following the release of damning audit findings of the Auditor-General (AG). Unpacking the importance of this week’s follow up hearings, SCOPA Chairperson, Honourable Tim Brauteseth, said members of the committee would inspect the responses of provincial departments and public entities.

“Our hearings will be laborious and evidence-based engagements aimed at ensuring that the public purse is used lawfully, efficiently, and in the best interests of the people of KwaZulu-Natal. This week we have called the Departments of Public Works, Community Safety & Liaison, Transport Education and Health,” added Brauteseth.

Members of the media are cordially invited to cover the hearings scheduled as follows:

DATE: 3 February 2026

Venue  : Llian Ngoyi Committee Room

10:15   : Vote 14 – Public Works

11:30   : Vote 9 – Community Safety & Liaison

14:00   : Vote 12 – Transport

DATE : 6 February 2026

Venue  : Llian Ngoyi Committee Room

09:00    : Vote 5-Education

10:15    : Vote 7 Health

ISSUED BY THE LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, HONOURABLE TIM BRAUTESETH

For interviews with Mr Brauteseth, contact Mr Bongani Tembe on 0823272600