Xpress Times

17/12/2025

15/12/2025

SAPS RAMP UP FESTIVE SEASON OPERATIONS

Ilembe District Police in partnership with Community Safety and Liaison hosted a multi-disciplinary roadblock at the N2 Umvoti Toll, in the KwaDukuza Policing Precinct on Monday, 8 December 2025.
Ilembe District Police, Community Safety and Liaison together with KDM Traffic Department and RTI held the roadblock to ensure motorists were compliant on road safety rules, as well as driving road worthy vehicles to ensure a safer festive season with fewer incidents.
Motorists were also checked for any outstanding fines which they may have, and their vehicles were checked for any traffic violations. All motorists engaged with Police and Community Safety and Liaison on safety tips to stay safe this festive season and were handed crime prevention safety tips brochures, Festive Season Safety Tips and personal safety tips brochures.
Some of the Crime Prevention Tips in the brochure included:
Safety tips for shopping malls:
* Avoid seeking help from strangers at ATMs.
* Refrain from displaying money in public.
* Do not ask for directions from strangers; seek assistance from law enforcement agents.
* Do not make purchases from salesmen outside the shop.
* Ensure the safety of your personal belongings, such as handbags and wallets.
* Always be aware of your surroundings and choose the right place at the right time.
Safety Tips for safeguarding stokvel money:
* Be extra vigilant when carrying large sums of money to be deposited at the bank or when making large withdrawals.
* Always keep your money where it cannot be easily snatched away.
* Watch to see if you are being followed.
* Try not to be alone; instead, have someone dependable and trustworthy accompany you.
* People who need to have large amounts of money available to make purchases should use bank cards or perform electronic transfers.
Banking Safety Tips:
* Stay vigilant when leaving the bank.
* Avoid opening strange links on the phone/computer.
* Avoid giving your personal information to strangers.
* At the ATM be alert at all times.
* If you see anything suspicious, stop your transaction and leave.
Safety Tips to Prevent Contact Crimes:
Alcohol plays a large role in criminal activities and violence. Excessive drinking has the ability to lower inhibitions, impair a person's judgement and increase the risk of aggressive behaviours and therefore contributes to contact crimes.
Preventing Contact Crimes:
* Do not carry weapons when attending social gatherings.
* Do not carry too much money when going to social events and places.
* Do not share a drink with someone you do not know.
* Avoid confrontation when under the influence of
* Never leave your drink unattended.

10/12/2025

PLAY YOUR ROLE, END GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE

KwaDukuza SAPS staged a successful and informative 16 Days of Activism Walk today (Wednesday), marking an end to the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against GBVF, but also highlighting a continuation of the fight to end GBVF.
The walk started from the KwaDukuza police station and ended at the KwaDukuza Mall with a short programme to raise awareness about the scourge of abuse.
Photos: Musa Mnyandu

08/12/2025

MISSING PERSONS SOUGHT BY KWAZULU-NATAL POLICE

Bhekithemba police are appealing to the public for assistance in locating Simphiwe Mchunu (23) who went missing on 22 November 2025. She was last seen on Spinal Road, Umlazi visiting a friend. Her current whereabouts are unknown. She is dark in complexion, approximately 1,6 metres in height and slender built. Police are appealing to anyone who may have information about the whereabouts of Simphiwe to contact the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Mthembu on 083 429 0621 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Sivatho Mani (30) is also missing and was last seen on 27 November 2025 at Chatsworth police station. Mani left his home at Bottlebrush informal settlement and did not return. At the time of his appearance, he was seen wearing a brown pants, red vest and grey jacket. He is light in complexion. The reason for his disappearance is unknown. Anyone who can assist police in locating Sivatho can contact Detective Sergeant Duma on 031 451 4268 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Slindile Buthelezi (33) was last seen on 7 November 2020 and was reported missing in Empangeni police station. she left her home at Nseleni Township and did not return. She was last seen wearing a blue denim and black t-shirt. Police are appealing to anyone who may have information on her whereabouts to contact the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Mabaso on 082 557 0153/ 035 907 1940 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Folweni police are appealing to the public for assistance in locating Saniboyi Patrick Mwandla (65) who was last seen on 2 April 2025. He left his home going to a nearby tavern in Folweni and did not return. He was wearing khaki pants and orange two piece overall. Police are appealing to the public about his whereabouts is urged to contact Investigating officer Detective Constable Khuzwayo on 082 334 8323 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

08/12/2025

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: ILEMBE

KWADUKUZA SAPS TELEPHONE LINES NOT WORKING

KwaDukuza, 8 December 2025: KwaDukuza SAPS Station Management would like to inform the members of the community that the telephone lines are not working at KwaDukuza SAPS.

All Community Service Centre Emergency Calls are to be directed to the following cellphone number: 079 696 3528.

KwaDukuza SAPS Station Management would like to apologise for this inconvenience and are working on resolving the matter.

Ends/

04/12/2025

BOUNCING THEIR WAY TO TENTH GRADE

Groutville High celebrated the school’s top achievers for the Grade 9 Class of 2025, who are now making their way out of General Education and Training (GET) to Further Education and Training (FET).

02/12/2025

COUNCILLOR TARGETED BY SCAMMERS

By Xpress Reporter
Hackers have once again visited KwaDukuza Municipality, this time targeting former Deputy Mayor and current EXCO member, Councillor Njabulo Cele.
In a statement, the municipality said a fake Facebook account appeared to have been created, purporting to be Cllr Cele, and soliciting job seekers for non-existent municipal vacancies.
“A message purportedly from Councillor Cele advises one of his friends that there are three vacancies in the municipality and provides a WhatsApp number which can be used in cases his friend has three people who need employment. The number is 073 031 3364.
“In filling vacancies, KwaDukuza Municipality follows a clear and transparent recruitment process. The Municipality does not use WhatsApp or ask councillors to recruit staff when vacancies exist,” the municipality stated.
Members of the public are advised to contact the municipality’s Human Resources Department on (032) 437-5142/5150/5153, if they have any doubt about an advertised vacancy.

27/11/2025

DAZZLING HALO ENCHANTS KWADUKUZA

By Vernon Pillay

Social media was abuzz on Thursday, 27th November 2025, at approximately 11am, due to the rare weather phenomenon: halo 'threshing floor, disk.' (Maybe the first documented in KwaDukuza).
Risking temporal blindness for many was worth seeing an arguable once-in-a-lifetime weather phenomenon.
According to National Geographic this example of sunlight run amok is caused by the collision of light and ice crystals high in Earth's atmosphere.
“Those frozen specks of water bend or refract light in myriad ways to produce arcs, halos, and pillars of light. Air temperatures, as well as the shape and arrangement of ice crystals, fine-tune the phenomena that we see.
“The circle of light ringing the pillar is a 22-degree halo. These halos are fairly common and are so named because they occur at a 22-degree angle from the sun. They're created by six-sided, or hexagonal, ice crystals.”
Wikipedia says that “the crystals behave like prisms and mirrors, refracting and reflecting light between their faces, sending shafts of light in particular directions.”

26/11/2025