The housing settlement department of the eThekwini municipality is currently working on approving building plans for numerous residential buildings previously referred to as hostels. Many of these buildings were constructed without changing the basic zoning required to match the actual land use on site.
As part of its annual review of its land use scheme in Durban, the eThekwini municipality highlighted the development of student accommodation and hostels. At a council meeting on Tuesday, the Second Amendment Regulation to the eThekwini Municipal Planning and Land Use Management Scheme for 2021, as well as the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act No. 16 of 2013, were approved. The annual review of the eThekwini Municipal Land Use Scheme (EMLUS), which includes five planning zones: central, northern, southern, inner west, and outer west, was also approved.
The motivation for the approval was to ensure that the annual scheme review complied with the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA). The revised land use scheme aligns with the Spatial Development Framework and considers constantly changing trends and pressure for development within the municipality. Furthermore, the review helps the municipality respond to current legislative and legal changes that must be reflected in the scheme.
During the eThekwini Scheme Review for 2020/2021, the scheme definitions, approval processes, and management levels concerning student accommodation at Howard College of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of KwaZulu-Natal Medical School were noted. The municipality reported that existing management levels are experiencing growing pressure in recent years due to high demand for safe and adequate student housing, necessitating a reassessment of student management levels.
The municipality stated: 'The proposed amendments are necessary to provide a proper basis for encouraging compliance, registration, and meeting the demand for adequate student housing near educational institutions.' Amendments are proposed to definitions of terms such as 'basement,' 'floor,' 'Early Childhood Development Centre,' and 'Nursery' to align with Provincial and National legislation, as well as court recommendations.
The municipal report indicated that the municipality's housing settlement department is currently working on approving construction plans for numerous residential buildings that were termed 'hostels' and built in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of these buildings were erected without altering the basic zoning to account for the actual land use. To expedite the approval of construction plans and this important project process, the affected sites will be zoned according to the best base zone.
The municipality clarified that the Land Use Management Scheme (town planning scheme) is a normative planning document along with a set of accompanying maps used to manage and promote development within the municipal area.
Phoenix councillors highlighted developments within existing settlements where sports fields, playgrounds, and open spaces are being developed. Alice Govender, an ActionSA representative on the eThekwini council, stated that there has been a complete lack of modernization of core infrastructure in Phoenix. She noted: 'Private developments continue to be approved using old and weak water supply, sewerage, electricity, and road networks. No new civil works have been carried out.'
Dr. Jonathan Annipen, an IFP councillor in eThekwini, stated that the municipality is obliged to fully implement the recommendations of the Special Investigating Unit to restore public trust in municipal development processes. Democratic Alliance (DA) councillors Donovan Pillay and Samir Singh stated that they have consistently opposed corruption, illegal property transfers, and slow accountability related to the Phoenix development project. Singh reported that he tabled a motion on this matter in January 2022 but received no response, and no recommendations have been implemented.
The municipality explained that the EMLUS review aims to ensure consistency in terminology, processes, and development standards across the municipality. This review is based on the need to remain proactive in facilitating municipal development and growth. The municipality added: 'The review also implements recommendations from planning projects conducted in this annual cycle and incorporates them into the scheme.'
Activist Sonam Vanchuk stated that he will end his hunger strike if the government acknowledges responsibility for recent problems in the education system, including leaks of examination materials, or if members of parliament guarantee him that the issue of accountability in education will be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.
In a post on the social media platform X, Vanchuk outlined three conditions under which he would cease fasting. He announced that he would stop on July 20th if: a) the government takes responsibility for recent failures in the education system, such as material leaks; b) he and the CJP leadership reach the Parliament doors, where MPs and leaders of various parties promise to raise the issue in Parliament; or c) if his health or other circumstances prevent this, MPs and leaders of different parties visit him in the hospital and give the aforementioned assurances while he is under illegal detention at Safdarjung Hospital, where his freedom of movement, speech, and communication is restricted.
Earlier, on Sunday, Vanchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, also stated that Sonam would end his hunger strike if politicians met with him at Safdarjung Hospital and promised to raise the issue of accountability in education. She specified that Sonam would end the fast the next day if political leaders met with him at Safdarjung Hospital and promised to raise the issue of accountability during this Parliament session, making educational accountability and reforms the main theme of the session. However, if accountability is not ensured through Parliament, he will continue to fast, and he has not broken his fast even after two days in the hospital.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, authorities deployed security personnel near Jantar Mantar in Delhi ahead of the announced march to Parliament by the Cockroach Janata Party. Police observers monitored the protest area. The Cockroach Janata Party continues to hold its protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and called for a march to Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon Session on Monday. Nevertheless, sources informed ANI that the organization had not yet approached the Delhi police for official permission for this march. The march was previously announced by activist Sonam Vanchuk, who was taken to the hospital on Saturday morning.
According to his wife Gitanjali Angmo, activist Sonam Wangchuk will end his indefinite hunger strike if politicians meet with him at Safdarjung Hospital and promise to raise the issue of accountability in the education sector during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.
Angmo stated this while addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar, where the movement against the alleged NEET exam leak is led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Activist Wangchuk conveyed that he will cease his fast provided that political parties commit to raising this issue in Parliament.
Angmo specified: 'If political leaders meet with Sonam in the hospital and assure him that they will raise the issue of accountability in education during the Monsoon Session, he will end his hunger strike tomorrow.' She also relayed Wangchuk's appeal to his supporters ahead of the planned CJP march 'Chalo Sansad' on Monday, urging them to maintain peace and discipline.
Regarding the activist's health, Angmo reported that Sonam is in stable condition. She mentioned that she had tried to secure his transfer to a private clinic through a higher court but was unsuccessful. On Saturday, Delhi police forcibly took Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital after three weeks of fasting at the CJP protest site at Jantar Mantar.
Angmo and CJP claim that Wangchuk continues to fast in the hospital, refusing IV drips. CJP and Wangchuk himself demand accountability regarding the alleged NEET exam leak, action against those responsible, and broader reforms in the education system.
The proposed march to Parliament on Monday coincides with the opening day of the Monsoon Session, which will last until August 13. In recent weeks, the action has received support from several opposition leaders and student organizations, and the Delhi High Court is also monitoring Wangchuk's medical condition through periodic reports.
The Natu teachers' union has called on the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to conduct a broader investigation into allegations of teacher positions being sold. These calls came after a video recording leaked, featuring current deputy director and department press secretary Muzi Malambi and his wife, Umhlazi Busisiwe 'Mthetu' Malambi, the district director.
Busisiwe 'Mthetu' Malambi has leveled accusations against her husband, Muzi Malambi, claiming he is involved in a scheme of sexual favors in exchange for jobs targeting teachers and in the alleged sale of teaching posts. Although these allegations have not been confirmed, both spouses firmly deny any wrongdoing.
The circulation of the video clip prompted several unemployed educators to state that they know colleagues who allegedly obtained positions after paying bribes, although no one has publicly named these individuals.
Despite the video allegations focusing on Muzi Malambi, Natu considers it irresponsible for the department to limit the investigation to one person. A Natu representative, Themba Mabidja, stated: 'We believe that if these allegations are true, there cannot be only one person involved in the sale of positions.' He emphasized that the investigation must be thorough to restore confidence in the hiring and selection processes within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education.
Mabidja also appealed to teachers and the public to provide evidence of corruption. He insisted that positions should go to deserving and qualified teachers, not those who 'bought their way into the system.'
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) supported the investigation but warned against accepting unconfirmed statements as fact. Provincial Secretary Nomarashiya Kaluza described the content of the video as shocking but agreed with the department's statement that it was a personal conflict, while insisting on the need to investigate the allegations concerning the department's hiring processes.
The National Association of Teachers of South Africa (Naptosa) noted that proving these allegations would inflict further damage on public trust in the education department. Provincial CEO Tyrone Mudli remarked that these claims touch upon long-standing concerns about corruption in teacher appointments, as it undermines the department's reputation and causes disappointment among educators seeking a fair selection process.
Natu proposed that the department establish a special task force to examine the allegations related to the alleged sale of positions. Following the video leak, Muzi Malambi stated that the recording was made about five years ago during a marital dispute, and he welcomes the investigation, insisting that he and his wife were not involved in the sale of positions. Both Malambis rejected all accusations. Subsequently, the head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, confirmed that the department has appointed an independent investigator to look into the allegations concerning teacher hiring and appointments.
