UMBUMBULU, KwaZulu-Natal — KwaZulu-Natal police have opened a culpable homicide investigation following the death of Celani Zungu, who was killed on Sunday after being run over by a municipal water tanker in Umbumbulu, south of Durban. The eThekwini Municipality has confirmed that the tanker belongs to its fleet and stated that internal processes regarding the incident are now underway.
The tragedy has exposed a deepening water service delivery crisis in the area, while the grieving Zungu family has issued an urgent plea to the public to stop circulating and editing graphic visuals of Celani Zungu’s death on social media platforms.
eThekwini Municipality Acknowledges Ownership
In a statement addressing the incident, the eThekwini Municipality confirmed that the water tanker involved in the fatal collision is a council-owned vehicle. The municipality indicated that internal processes have been initiated to address the matter, though no further details on disciplinary or administrative steps were provided at the time of reporting.
Police have classified the case as culpable homicide and confirmed that the investigation is active.
Family Pleads: “Stop Editing and Sharing the Videos”
The Zungu family has publicly appealed to social media users to cease sharing, editing, and redistributing footage and images of the incident, which they described as deeply distressing.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the brother of Celani Zungu, Sakhile, said that individuals on social media are worsening the family’s pain by manipulating and re-editing the graphic content. He stressed that those altering the visuals are compounding the trauma experienced by the household.
The brother further stated that when Celani Zungu left the family home on the day of the incident, he was not carrying any item or weapon. He expressed the family’s firm belief that the tragedy could have been prevented.
Ward 95 Residents Endure Eight Years Without Water
The fatal incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the prolonged water shortages plaguing communities in Umbumbulu. In Ward 95, located approximately 10 minutes from the scene of the tragedy, residents revealed they have been without a reliable water supply for the past eight years.
Community members reported that while their homes are fitted with taps in bathrooms and kitchens, no water flows through them. Residents are instead forced to rely on a single communal tap for their daily needs. Several residents noted that even the communal source could run dry by early afternoon, leaving families with no alternative.
Some residents expressed fear about speaking publicly about the water crisis, citing concerns about potential repercussions following any interviews or public commentary on the situation.
Investigation Continues
KwaZulu-Natal police have urged anyone with information relating to the circumstances surrounding Celani Zungu’s death to come forward as the culpable homicide probe continues. The eThekwini Municipality has not indicated a timeline for the conclusion of its internal review.
The Zungu family has asked for privacy and respect as they mourn, reiterating their call for the immediate removal of all edited and unedited visuals of the incident from social media platforms.