Umziwabantu Municipality Speaker Faces Culpable Homicide Charges After Drunk-Driving Crash Kills 2

• The Speaker of the Umziwabantu Local Municipality was arrested after a crash on the N2 near Paddock
• Nkosiyazi Petros Shebi was driving a municipal car without his bodyguards at the time of the collision
• The 55-year-old now faces several charges after two people were killed in the collision in KwaZulu-Natal
• Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza from the KwaZulu-Natal police provided more information to Briefly News

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

KWAZULU-NATAL - Police in KwaZulu-Natal have officially confirmed that a 55-year-old man was under the influence of alcohol when he was involved in a crash that killed two road construction workers.

The incident took place on Monday, 31 August 2026, on the N2 near Paddock in southern KwaZulu-Natal. While police did not confirm to Briefly News who the man was, Sihle Mavuso reported that it was Nkosiyazi Petros Shebi, Speaker of the ANC-run Umziwabantu Local Municipality in Harding.

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Shebi was driving a municipal vehicle at the time and had left his bodyguards behind. According to authorities, he lost control of the vehicle and struck two female pedestrians who were employed as flag personnel on an active road construction site.

Shebi was arrested and appeared in court on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, and now faces two counts of culpable homicide as well as a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Municipal cover-up allegations surface

Before the police's confirmation of the arrest, Mavuso reported that the municipality was allegedly attempting to conceal the incident from both staff and the public.

South Africans react to the charges

The case has drawn sharp public reaction on social media, with many questioning whether Shebi will face meaningful consequences.

@Mrmoney115 said:

"The case won't go anywhere."

@TheDBK84 wrote:

"The case will drag on for years, after which he will be acquitted. Politicians are above the law. Everybody knows that."

@U_Siphoz added:

"Hopefully the family will run a separate civil lawsuit against him."

@PhumelelaMzansi stated:

"To jail he must go."

@Nonhlan23097084 said:

"May the souls of the two municipal workers rest in eternal peace. The damage shows that this was a high-impact collision. The speaker must account."

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One killed in crash involving MMC

Briefly News reported that South Africans called for blue-light brigades to be done away with after the Ekurhuleni MMC of Finance was involved in an accident.

Nkululeko Dunga, who is also an Economic Freedom Fighters member, was driving with the motorcade when they were involved in a crash.

Netizens questioned the need for politicians to have blue light brigades accompanying them as one person was killed in the crash.

Source: Briefly News