MEDIA STATEMENT
12 March 2026

TO ALL MEDIA
SUBJECT : CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE UNDERTAKES INSPECTIONS AT DIDIMA AND BUSINGA RETREAT LODGE

Tomorrow, 13 March 2026 the Portfolio Committee will follow up on progress regarding the implementation of two projects by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. The two projects are the Didima Thatching & Upgrades and Busingatha Retreat Lodge. The oversight exercise visit will focus specifically on construction progress, local beneficiation, and adherence to time frames including the challenges experienced during these upgrades.

The Committee noted that the upgrades were because of leaking units requiring regular roof re-thatching, windy conditions and baboons destroying the establishments’ thatched chalets. Chalets requiring both internal and external painting as they were last painted in the year 2002 and walls are now showing superficial cracks.

The R15 500 000 Busingatha project funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) needs R12 086 953,74 for phase 1 and the project is currently on hold due to unavailability of funds. Even though some work had started which has come to a stop now, the Committee noted that nearly 10 years with this project still incomplete with signs of poor workmanship.

The Chairperson of the Committee Hon B Sithole-Moloi invites the media to cover the oversight, and she will be available to take media interviews.

For enquiries:
Chairperson Portfolio Committee: Conservation & Environmental Affairs
KZN Legislature
Hon B Sithole- Moloi
060 560 2904
Wesley Canham
083 376 7299
Senior Practitioner: Media Liaison

10 March 2026

Media Advisory

The Agriculture and Rural Development Portfolio Committee will undertake an oversight visit to three sites in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality. This is part of the committee’s oversight exercise over the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and its entities.

The three sites are: Owen Sithole Agricultural College, Fresh Produce Agri-Hub and Arms Don Trading (Vegetable Nursery).
• At Owen Sithole Agricultural College, the committee will be going there to assess the status quo of the infrastructure upgrades. These include upgrading the existing sewer system, electrical reticulation, and installing new boreholes and generators to ensure the proper functioning of the college.
• The committee will visit this site to assess the status of the Fresh Produce Agric-Hub, including the progress and challenges that have been experienced so far.
• Arms Don Trading is a small-scale nursery specialising in vegetables, indigenous plants, and fruit trees, located in the Macekane area under Inkosi Mthembu. It produces vegetable seedlings. However, due to the sensitive nature of these seedlings, the farmer applied for and secured funding to construct tunnels where they will be cultivated. Currently, the service provider is on-site, overseeing the construction and erection of four greenhouses. The committee will visit the site to evaluate the progress.

Details of the visit are as follows:
Date: 11 March 2026
Time: 9 am
Venue: Owen Sithole Agricultural College
Ends
Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit.
For more information and interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the Committee’s Communications Practitioner, Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

KZN LEGISLATURE COMMEMORATES COMMONWEALTH DAY

On Monday the 09^th of March, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature will join the rest of the Commonwealth in recognising Commonwealth Day.

Commonwealth Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday in March by the 56 member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2026, Commonwealth Day will be observed on Monday, 9 March 2026, across all Commonwealth countries.

The theme for this year’s celebrations is: “Unlocking Opportunities Together for a Prosperous Commonwealth.”

The day provides an opportunity for member countries to reflect on collective progress and strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit. The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature joins the global Commonwealth community in commemorating Commonwealth Day, reaffirming our shared commitment to democracy, cooperation, development and inclusive prosperity. Furthermore, as an Institution that upholds democratic principles and public participation, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is well-positioned to commemorate this day by promoting civic awareness, youth engagement and international solidarity.

The day will be marked by the display of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) flags, the display of Commonwealth books in the Chamber foyer, and the playing of the Commonwealth Anthem on KZN Legislature TV screens.

Ends

Issued by the KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information, please contact Mr. Sina Nxumalo at 0829060449

DEBATE ON THE STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS

Media Advisory

Members of the KZN Legislature will be debating the State of the Province Address (SOPA) which was delivered by Premier Hon Thami Ntuli last Friday.

SOPA debate is a critical, legally mandated legislative function where opposition and governing parties analyse, critique and challenge the Premier’s policy priorities fostering accountability, ensuring oversight of government performance and shapes the province’s political and economic direction for the upcoming year.

Details of this year’s SOPA debate are as follows:

Date: 03 March 2026

Time: 09am

Venue: Pietermaritzburg City Hall

Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information please contact Sina Nxumalo at 082 906 0449

Date: 01 March 2026

To: All Media

TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR TRAVELLERS IMPACTED BY UAE AIRPSPACE CLOSURE

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) notes ongoing global flight disruptions due to the evolving situation in the Middle East and the continued closure of United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace.
Travellers scheduled to depart from South African airports to the Middle East and UAE are advised not to proceed to airport precincts until they have confirmed their flight status with their respective airline.
For rebooking and assistance, customers may contact:

•Emirates – www.emirates.com | +971 600 555 555
•Qatar Airways – www.qatarairways.com | +974 4144 5555 or +44 3309 127 416

South African citizens stranded in affected areas should contact the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) or the nearest South African mission:
Tel: +27 12 351 1000
Email: CICC@dirco.gov.za

Or contact the nearest South African mission.

ACSA continues to monitor developments in coordination with aviation stakeholders. We acknowledge the frustration and anxiety caused by these disruptions and extend our support to all affected travellers.
Travellers are strongly advised to rely on information from official sources. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

//ENDS//

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
Ofentse Dijoe
ACSA Group Spokesperson
0727988486

Mediadesk@airports.co.za
Issued by Airports Company South Africa

Short Programme (English & isiZulu) – Download

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.

End

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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