Daily news update: More arrests in Babita Deokaran murder case, KZN horror crash and State of Disaster extended

Click on the links below for the full story or visit our home page for the latest news.

Babita Deokaran murder: Two more suspects nabbed, Cele reveals

Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that two more arrests have been made in Babita Deokaran’s murder case.

Speaking in Umlazi on Thursday, following the killings of 11 people in less than three days, Cele gave an update Deokaran’s murder investigation.

Cele said two more suspects were arrested, while a firearm was also seized by the police.

“One is happy to see [that] the investigation is progressing well. Two more people have been arrested with two cars and one firearm [have been confiscated],” he told the media.

Opposition cries foul after Nqaba Bhanga escapes with no blood alcohol test

Nelson Mandela Bay Patriotic Alliance councillor Marlon Daniels says his party will call in top legal minds to help find out why no blood alcohol tests were done on Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Executive Mayor Nqaba Bhanga following his car crash.

Bhanga was involved in a fatal two-car accident at close to midnight on Saturday evening, after curfew, with speculation rife that he may not have been in a fit state to drive himself after celebrating his birthday.

Bhanga, a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor and the party’s Eastern Cape leader, was hospitalised at the Netcare Greenacres Hospital, while the two occupants of the other vehicle were killed at the scene.

Phoenix murders: More than 50 suspects arrested, says Cele

Police Minister Bheki Cele says more than 50 suspects have now been arrested in connection to the murders in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal.

Cele gave an update the progress of the investigations into the 36 deaths in Phoenix, which has led to a total of 56 people being arrested to date.

“The police have increase the arrests there. Plus-minus 56 people have been arrested [and] they will be appearing in court. It looks like there are people there who have committed quite heinous crimes.”

National State of Disaster extended yet again

The South African government has approved the extension of the National State of Disaster by another month to 15 October 2021.

This was announced at a media briefing on Thursday by Minister in The Presidency Mondli Gungubele following a Cabinet meeting.

“In other words, the protocols as they pertain are going to continue,” Gungubele said.

Eskom wins R1.3 billion judgment against Emfuleni Local Municipality

Power utility Eskom has won a summary judgment against Emfuleni Local Municipality for R1.3 billion.

The municipality owed the parastatal for unpaid bulk electricity services back in 2019. 

The R1.3 billion forms part of a total debt of R1.9 billion, which the local government had accumulated in 2019. 

KZN accident: 11 people killed in horror crash

Eleven people were killed and 12 injured in the horrific KZN accident on the R612 near Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands shortly after 8:30 am.

Three trucks, a bakkie and a minibus vehicle were involved in the crash. KZN EMS spokesperson Robert McKenzie on Thursday told the media 11 people were declared dead at the scene.

Paramedics are currently treating 12 others. Some have been taken to hospital.

Declare your crypto profits or face prison time, warns Sars

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is determined to get its cut from those who have profited off cryptocurrencies. 

And the revenue service is depending on crypto users to volunteer access to their digital wallets. 

At their inception, cryptocurrencies were lauded as a decentralised form of internet money that could be used, traded and hoarded almost entirely anonymously – essentially keeping governments out of your finances.

But if wallet holders are hoping this will throw off the tax collectors, they’re in for a rude awaking.

‘uThando Nes’thembu’ returns with more drama in the Mseleku family

Mzansi’s favourite polygamous family is back for a new season.

uThando Nes’thembu returns to Mzansi Magic to give audiences answers to the question about whether or not the four wives of Musa Mseleku have managed to heal the rifts from the last season.

Season four ended with uncertainty as the Mseleku wives – MaCele, MaYeni, MaKhumalo and MaNgwabe – were unanimous in their decision that Musa having a fifth wife would bring more discord in the family.