PUBLIC STATEMENT

DATE: 27 March 2026

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE TAKES ACTIONS ON CONCERNS BROUGHT UP DURING OVERSIGHT VISITS TO SPAZA SHOPS

The Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Tourism conducted oversight visits to a number of spaza shops throughout KwaZulu-Natal on March 23 and 24, 2026, to confirm whether beneficiaries received assistance under the Zimele Traders Fund.

The Fund was created in February 2024 by the Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs to help spaza shop owners who had been severely impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and the July 2021 looting.

The initiative was carried out by Ithala Development Finance Corporation, an EDTEA entity, and provided each spaza shop owner with a grant of R20 000 in the form of trading stock. A total budget of R10 million was set aside for this initiative, which aimed to reach 500 spaza shops throughout the province.

During oversight visits this week, beneficiaries expressed serious concerns about receiving unrequested items, expired food, and stock valued at less than R20,000.

In response, the department was called to a special, lengthy meeting by the committee chairman, Honourable Mafika Mndebele, where a comprehensive report was presented and immediate corrective actions were decided upon.

The committee has decided that a thorough investigation into what went wrong is necessary. In cases where there were deficiencies, all impacted beneficiaries must be fully compensated. Every beneficiary who was mistreated or victimized must receive a formal apology.

In order to enhance future implementation of the programme, the program should switch to a voucher system that will enable beneficiaries to select stocks that are appropriate for their businesses. A specialized team should be sent to visit each beneficiary and address any issues. The Committee will be presented with a comprehensive progress report.

Mndebele summarized the meeting’s results and emphasized that the committee’s top goal was to guarantee that people were empowered. 

“Our people must benefit from this program. Failures that jeopardize beneficiaries will not be accepted. To guarantee adequate assistance, training, and long-term expansion of spaza shops, the department must collaborate closely with municipalities, especially the Local Economic Development (LED) units. The committee will continue to exercise strict oversight to ensure accountability and that public resources deliver real economic benefit to communities,” continued Mndebele.

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, MR MAFIKA MNDEBELE (0837835164)

Enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, led by Speaker Hon. Nontembeko Boyce and Deputy Speaker Hon. Mmabatho Tembe, convened the Annual Strategy and Performance Workshop at Brahman Hills on 24 and 25 March 2026.

This important session provides a platform to reflect, refine, and strengthen the institution’s strategic direction, with a clear focus on delivering its constitutional mandate. As the voice of the people, the Legislature plays a critical role in law-making, robust oversight of the Executive, and ensuring meaningful public participation in governance.

The session was attended by members of the KZN Legislature’s strategic leadership, the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, Chief Whip of the Minority Party, and KZN Legislature Secretary, Ms. Nerusha Naidoo. The session also featured presentations by the House Chairperson of the National Assembly, Hon. C. Frolick, along with representatives from the legislative sector, institutions of higher learning, the National School of Government, and senior management.

Through this strategic session, the KZN Legislature is reaffirming its commitment to accountable, transparent, and responsive governance, placing public participation at the center of its work.

#KZNLegislature #kznmpls #parliament

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MEDIA ADVISORY
23 March 2026

KZN SCOPA ENGAGES WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY PERMANENT SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES IN GOVERNMENT FLEET MANAGEMENT

A number of issues, including the acute lack of ambulances and police cars to serve communities, have been attributed to the RT46 transversal contract, which is intended to maintain, and oversee South African government vehicles.

To address reported operational bottlenecks and general discontent from government departments as well as the public, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) will host a stakeholder engagement session with important stakeholders tomorrow.

Commenting ahead of the engagement session, the SCOPA Chairman, Honourable Tim Brauteseth, said that among the concerns raised were chronic delays in fixing vehicles, which lead to a shortage of cars to service communities.
“We have high hopes for the success of our intervention. All pertinent parties, including MECs, the National Treasury, and the Westbank, which manages the RT46 transversal contract, have been invited,”

The stakeholder engagement meeting is scheduled as follows:
Date  : 24 March 2026
Venue: Main Chamber, KZN Legislature
Time  : 8 am

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

#kznmpl
#kznlegislature
#kznhealth

MEDIA ADVISORY
23 March 2026

KZN MPLS START AN OUTREACH PROGRAM TO ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SPAZA SHOPS

In February 2024, the Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) department launched the Zimele Traders Fund to offer financial assistance to spaza shops in KwaZulu-Natal.

The initiative was carried out by Ithala Development Finance Corporation and provided each spaza shop owner with a grant of R20 000 in the form of trading stock. A total budget of R10 million was set aside for this initiative, which aimed to reach 500 spaza shops throughout the province.

Members of the Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Committee will visit tuckshops in the districts of Mkhanyakude, Ilembe, eThekwini, and Ugu this week to determine whether this ambitious initiative has served its intended purpose. The Honorable Mafika Mndebele, the committee chairman, will lead the legislative delegation.

Prior to the visits, Mr. Mndebele stated that his committee had chosen to use a Focused Intervention Study (FIS) to evaluate the spaza shops program’s execution.
“We will visit spaza shops in Jozini, Mandeni, Umzumbe, Umdoni, and eThekwini Municipality as part of the FIS. As the organization in charge of overseeing government agencies, we want to make sure that public funds have not been squandered and that spaza shops have benefited in any way,” Mndebele continued.

Members of the media are invited to report on all the visits which are scheduled as follows:

JOZNI MUNICIPALITY
Date : 24 March 2026
Sites: Amandlakagogo Retail tuck-shop at Hlalanathi, Gugs Tuck-shop ward 4 kwaJobe and Shukushukuma Tuck-shop ward 21.
Meeting point: Amandlakagogo Retail tuck-shop at 8 am

MANDENI MUNICIPALITY
Date: 24 March 2026
Sites: Mzomunye Tuckshop in Ward14, Nomthandazo Tuckshop in ward 7 and Kwashuuz Tuckshop in Ward 14.
Meeting point: Mzomunye Tuckshop in Ward14 at 2pm.

MZUMBE MUNICIPALITY
Date : 25 March 2026
Site  : Mandlethonga Tuckshop in Hlokozi
Time: 8am

MDONI MUNICIPALITY
Date  : 25 March 2026
Sites : KK Trading Tuckshop in Hazelwood and Mbhele Tuckshop in Mistake Farm
Time: 11 am

ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY
Date: 25 March 2026
Sites: Tholumuzi Supermarket at Adam’s College, Boys Tuckshop in Chesterville and Zone14 Tuckshop in Hammasdale
Meeting point: Tholumuzi Supermarket at 2pm

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, MR MAFIKA MNDEBELE (0837835164)
Enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600

18 March 2026

Media Advisory

The KZN Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee, led by Chairperson Honourable PN Msimango, will conduct an oversight visit in the AmaJuba District on Friday the 20th of March to assess progress made in the construction and renovation of two public institutions.

The two projects to be visited are Newcastle Hospital and Celani Primary School.

• At Newcastle Hospital the project’s main aim was to upgrade the security measures, improve fire detection and prevention measures and convert the boiler to heat pumps.
• At Celani Primary School, the project’s aim was to build an entirely new school consisting of all facilities and amenities required for a fully functional school that provides a conducive teaching and learning environment.

Details of the oversight visit are as follows:

Date: 20 March 2026

Time: 9am

Venue: Department of Public Works and Infrastructure District
Offices in Newcastle

Immediately after the briefing at the district offices Committee Members will leave to visit the two sites.

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

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