South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Sunday 23 January 2022

A lot can change overnight, but we’ll keep you in the know with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Sunday 23 January 2022.

The entertainment fraternity has been hit by yet another tragedy, following the death of veteran actor Patrick Shai.

His family confirmed that he passed away on Saturday morning, 22 January 2022.

Shai is believed to have committed suicide by hanging himself in the garage of his Dobsonville home on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the heatwave has led to several fires in Cape Town on Saturday. Silvermine and several roads were closed for hours as firefighters and other emergency services tried to contain the fires.

In some shocking news, a beloved Thembisa deputy principal was killed in a hail of bullets at the school before the gunmen fled without taking anything from her.

The 50-year-old deputy principal from Phomolong Secondary School in Tembisa was shot and killed as she was driving out of the school gate on Friday afternoon.

Three gunmen suddenly appeared and allegedly shot her three times through the passenger window. She got out of her car, trying to evade the hailstorm of bullets, but she fell just beside the car. One of the gunmen allegedly shot her twice while she was on the ground, and they fled the scene without taking anything from her. 

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Sunday 23 January

BREAKING: Veteran actor Patrick Shai PASSES AWAY

The entertainment fraternity has been hit by yet another tragedy, following the death of veteran actor Patrick Shai.

His family confirmed that he passed away on Saturday morning, 22 January 2022. Shai is believed to have committed suicide by hanging himself in the garage of his Dobsonville home earlier on Saturday.

He boasts an illustrious career, having starred in several hit shows, including Soul City, Generations, Zero Tolerance and the SABC 2 comedy Moferefere Lenyalong. One of his most recent roles is as Jacob Moloi on 7de Laan, where he starred alongside actress KB Motsilanyane as her father, between 2017 and 2020.

Shai was also an advocate against gender-based violence. Shai has been open about his history as an abuser and how it has impacted his relationship with his family.

Click here to read more about this tragedy.

SHOCKING! Tembisa deputy principal killed in a hail of bullets at school

How utterly shocking is this! A beloved Thembisa deputy principal was killed in a hail of bullets at the school before the gunmen fled without taking anything from her.

The Gauteng Education Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the 50-year-old deputy principal from Phomolong Secondary School in Tembisa was shot and killed as she was driving out of the school gate on Friday afternoon.

“According to information at our disposal, the incident occurred in the afternoon when she was driving out of the school gate. Three gunmen suddenly appeared and allegedly shot her three times through the passenger window.

“Subsequently, she got out of her car trying to evade the hailstorm of bullets, but she fell just beside the car. One of the gunmen allegedly shot her twice while she was on the ground, and they fled the scene without taking anything from her,” he said.

Click here to read more about this shooting.

WATCH: Cape HEATWAVE! Silvermine, roads closed due to 7 fires

With temperatures reaching well over 40 degrees celsius, the Western Cape is going through one absolute scorcher of a weekend. With temperatures of 38c in the Mother City alone, it was only a matter of time before another Cape Town fire broke out. Silvermine and mountain pass Ou Kaapse Weg have been closed after several fires caught alight towards the Noordhoek side.

The City of Cape Town has confirmed the reports of a mountain fire in the vicinity of Ou Kaapse Weg Silvermine.
As a result, Ou Kaapse Weg is closed in both directions. Between Steenberg road and Silvermine road Noordehoek. Motorists have been advised by the city to use Old Boyes Drive or Main road as an alternative route.

Click here to read more about the fire.

‘Peppered with bullet holes’: Man gunned down in Amanzimtoti shooting

A man was killed and another man injured when their vehicle was peppered with high caliber bullets in Amanzimtoti on Saturday.

Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen said paramedics were called to the Amanzimtoti area to assist ET Rapid Response at a shooting incident just after 11:00.

He said multiple shots had been fired in what appears to be a hit.

ALSO READ: Matric learner shot in the head while waiting for matric results in Pietermaritzburg

“On arrival on the scene, a grey Volkswagen hatchback was found peppered with high caliber bullets. A man was found approximately fifty meters from the vehicle at the entrance to a convenience store with fatal gunshot wounds,” Van Reenen said.

Click here to read more.

Leigh Matthews: ‘Moodley has not changed,’ say slain student’s parents

Rob and Sharon Matthews, the parents of Leigh Matthews, a murdered Bond University, are not convinced that their daughter’s killer has changed. Donovan Moodley is seeking parole, 17 years later.

The Matthews appealed Moodley’s application at the Johannesburg Medium B Correctional Services Centre on Friday, 21 January 2022 where the convicted murderer appeared before the parole board. The family believes Moodley hasn’t changed at all.

“The truth of the matter is 17 years later, and Moodley has not changed. He is still the same lying, conniving, deceitful individual,” Matthews’ father said.

On 9 July 2004, Moodley, who attended the same university with Matthews, abducted her at gunpoint from the institution’s parking lot. He demanded a R50 000 ransom from her family, but when it was paid, she was never set free and instead killed her. Matthews’ body was found an open veld in Walkerville on 24 July, more than two weeks after the kidnapping. She had been shot four times.

Moodley was sentenced to life for the murder, 15 years for kidnapping and another 10 for extortion. He began serving his sentence on 4 August 2005.

Click here to read the latest on this case.

LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, Sunday 23 January

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HOROSCOPE TODAY

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip, and lucky numbers for Sunday, 23 January