Today, we commemorate Freedom Day — a defining moment in our nation’s journey, when millions of South Africans stood together in 1994 to cast their votes for the very first time in a democratic South Africa.
This year’s theme, “Freedom and the Rule of Law: Thirty Years of Democratic Citizenship,” invites us to reflect not only on how far we have come, but also on the responsibility we carry to protect and strengthen our democracy.
Freedom is more than a historic victory — it is a living promise. It lives in our Constitution, in our right to be heard, and in our collective duty to uphold justice, equality, and dignity for all. The rule of law remains the foundation upon which our freedoms stand, ensuring that every voice matters and every right is protected.
As we mark 30 years of democratic citizenship, we are reminded that democracy does not sustain itself. It requires active participation, informed choices, and a commitment from each of us.
With local government elections on the horizon, we call on all residents to take part in shaping the future of our communities:
Register to vote
Verify your registration details
Show up and make your mark on election day
Your vote is your voice. It is your power to influence change, to hold leadership accountable, and to contribute to building the municipality and country we all want to see.
Let us honour the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom by continuing their legacy — through unity, active citizenship, and participation in our democracy.
Happy Freedom Day, South Africa. 🇿🇦
Together, let us protect our freedom and shape a brighter future for generations to come!
Easter is a season of renewal, of light returning after darkness, and of hope blooming like flowers after a long winter. It is a reminder that no stone is too heavy, no night too long — that resurrection and new beginnings are always possible.
May this Easter fill your home with warmth, your heart with peace, and your table with laughter and love. May every egg hidden, every candle lit, and every family gathered together be a celebration of life’s greatest gift — each other.
To those carrying heavy hearts this season, may you feel the gentle comfort of grace surrounding you. And to those overflowing with joy — let it shine!
Wishing you and your loved ones a truly blessed and beautiful Easter.
Okhahlamba Local Municipality recently hosted its annual Matric Excellence Awards Ceremony, honouring the outstanding achievements of the Class of 2025. The event was led by His Worship the Mayor, Cllr. V.R. Mlotshwa, alongside the Deputy Mayor, Cllr. N.E. Tshabalala, and Municipal Speaker, Cllr. S.Z. Khumalo.
The ceremony recognised the top 30 academic achievers across the municipality, celebrating their resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence. This celebration comes at a time when the Class of 2025 achieved an impressive national matric pass rate of 88%, while KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the top-performing province in the country, recording an exceptional 90.6% pass rate.
Delivering the keynote address, Mayor Mlotshwa congratulated the learners on their remarkable accomplishments and reminded them that the journey to success is continuous and ever-evolving. He encouraged the matriculants to remain grounded, to honour their roots, and to use their education as a tool to uplift their families and communities.
The Bergville Circuit achieved an impressive 86.77% pass rate. Of the 33 high schools within the Bergville Circuit, nine recorded pass rates below 80%, reflecting a slight regression across the circuit.
The Bergville Circuit Management Centre (CMC) comprises four education circuits and is led by Mr L.F. Mbongwe, the Chief Education Specialist. He is supported by Deputy Chief Education Specialists responsible for their respective circuits. The circuits are managed as follows: eMangweni Circuit under the leadership of Mr Muvo Nkosi; Bethany Circuit led by Mr Mandla Sibisi; the Winterton Circuit, where the post is currently vacant; and the Amazizi Circuit which is being overseen in an acting capacity by Mrs Dudu Qwabe.
Outstanding school performances included Amazizi High School with a 100% pass rate, Ubulinga Secondary School with a 99% pass rate, and Isibuko High School with a 97.7% pass rate.
Further highlighting the exceptional academic excellence produced within the Bergville Circuit Management Centre, KwaNtatshana Public School proudly produced Siphosethu Gamede, who achieved the highest mark in Accounting in KwaZulu-Natal, the highest Accounting mark amongst Quintile 2 schools in the province, and the highest Accounting mark within the uThukela District. This remarkable achievement is a testament to Siphosethu’s dedication and discipline, and reflects the strong commitment of educators, school leadership, and education support structures within the Bergville Circuit Management Centre to academic excellence.
The top five learners from the Bergville Circuit were:
1. Sphosethu Nhlakanipho Gamede (Kwantatshana Public School)
2. Kwenzokhuhle Khayisile Nokwanda Hlope (Ngconngcosi High School)
The ceremony was attended by councillors, learners, parents, educators, school principals, officials from the Department of Education, sponsorship partners, and municipal staff, highlighting a strong collective commitment to education. Sponsorship partners included KFC, which provided meals for the learners, and Sappi, which sponsored a laptop, a laptop bag, a Mr Price voucher and a Mobile charging device for the top achiever.
Okhahlamba Local Municipality extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025, the Circuit Management Centres, educators, parents, and all stakeholders who contributed to this outstanding achievement. Your dedication to academic excellence has set a powerful benchmark for future generations.
100 senior citizens of Okhahlamba were graced with blankets, walking sticks, toiletry bags etc. This is an initiative that was championed by the Office of the Mayor – the OSS unit in collaboration with the Al-imdaad Foundation.
*WEATHER ALERT: LEVEL 2 SEVER THUNDERSTORM EXPECTED IN THE CENTRAL PARTS OF KWAZULU-NATAL ON MONDAY EVENING*
The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is warning the public, particularly, in the central parts of KwaZulu-Natal areas of the predicted severe thunderstorms and heavy rains that could result in localised flooding and damage to infrastructure.
The severe thunderstorms will begin just after midday throughout the evening. This alert may affect the following areas: Umgungundlovu District – Mooi River, Howick, Impendle, Uthukela District – Escort, Giant Castle, Ladysmith, Bergville, Amajuba District – Newcastle, Dannhauser, Utrecht and Zululand District – eDumbe, Vryheid, Mondlo areas.
According to the South African Weather Services, scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over the central parts with the possibility of some of them becoming severe. As the thunderstorm will be accompanied by heavy rains this could result in localised flooding, damage to infrastructure, settlements, vehicles and livestock.
Communities are advised to adhere to precautionary measures to ensure safety during this period. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution when travelling, or consider postponing travel plans as roads may become impassable due to flooding, water-filled potholes, and potential sinkholes. In rural areas, residents living along riverbanks should be prepared to evacuate to higher ground if necessary, as riverbanks may flood. The Department has activated disaster management teams in all affected municipalities, ensuring they remain on high alert during this period.
Issued by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Eskom announced that whilst some generating units have returned to service since Sunday, some are experiencing delays.
Due to these delays in returning the units back to service and the need to conserve emergency reserves, Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00 on Wednesday, followed by Stage 3 loadshedding from 16:00 until 05:00 on Thursday.
This pattern of implementing Stage 2 loadshedding in the morning and Stage 3 loadshedding in the evening will be repeated daily until further notice.
Eskom will monitor the system and communicate should any significant changes occur.
We are scheduled to be off the grid at the following times:
Wednesday:
03:00 – 05:30;
11:00 – 13:30; and
19:00 – 21:30
Thursday:
19:00 – 21:30
Friday:
01:00 – 03:30; and
17:00 – 19:30
For more information on loadshedding and to access the schedules, please access ESKOM’s website:
