Daily news update: Thabo Bester jet-setting to the end, petrol price and Easter weekend fatalities

Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.

Daily news update: 15 April

SAPS ‘gravy plane’? Thabo Bester jet-setting to the very end

Jaws dropped when Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach shone the spotlight on the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) use of a private jet to repatriate Thabo Bester and his accomplice girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, from Tanzania on Thursday 13 April.

During the Parliamentary inquiry into “Facebook rapist” and murderer Bester’s prison escape, Police Minister Bheki Cele attributed its use to “part of the negotiations” with Tanzanian authorities.

READ MORE: SAPS ‘gravy plane’? Thabo Bester jet-setting to the very end

Price pain at the pumps: Diesel dips, but petrol to soar in May

Mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows there is currently an under-recovery in petrol prices, pointing to an increase next month of between 76 and 84 cents per litre.

Diesel drivers are in line for yet another cut to fuel prices, with data pointing to an over-recovery of between 23 and 47 cents per litre.

READ MORE: Price pain at the pumps: Diesel dips, but petrol to soar in May

225 people died on SA roads over Easter weekend

225 people died on the country’s roads over Easter long weekend, compared to the same period last year when 161 fatalities were recorded.

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga made the announcement on Friday during a media briefing in Midrand, Johannesburg, on the Easter road traffic statistics.

READ MORE: 225 people died on SA roads over Easter weekend

Thabo Bester was born in SA, but not registered with Home Affairs – Motsoaledi 

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has revealed that convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester, is not registered as a South African in the National Population Register.

Thabo Bester prison escape

Motsoaledi on Friday briefed the media in Pretoria on the identification and travel documents of Bester and his lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana.

READ MORE: Thabo Bester was born in SA, but not registered with Home Affairs – Motsoaledi 

Brace for a weekend of darkness – Here’s your load shedding schedule for the weekend

Eskom has announced stage 5 load shedding from 5am on Saturday until 4pm, due to ‘lower demand’.  

The utility said it would then implement stage 6 load shedding from 4pm Saturday until 5am Sunday.

READ MORE: Brace for a weekend of darkness – Here’s your load shedding schedule for the weekend

Moshe Ndiki does about-turn after defending Dr Nandipha

Entertainer and TV presenter Moshe Ndiki has done an about-turn on his belief in Dr Nanipha Magudumana’s innocence in light of mounting evidence against his friend. 

Ndiki initially shared several screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation with the disgraced doctor shortly after the first GroundUp article about her involvement with Bester was published. 

READ MORE: Moshe Ndiki does about-turn after defending Dr Nandipha

Zwane aims to return Chiefs to its trophy culture 

Arthur Zwane carries a huge responsibility on his shoulders: to return Kaizer Chiefs to where it used to be, a team who wins everything on offer. 

ALSO READ: Class is in session for Dondol in Nedbank Cup ahead of Pirates clash

That is the culture Zwane has been mandated to bring back to Naturena where a trophy was last seen eight years ago. 

READ MORE: Zwane aims to return Chiefs to its trophy culture