South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 1 February 2022 [Video]

We’ve got all the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa you really need to know on Tuesday 1 February 2022.

The tragic passing of Olivia Sieff has left communities in Cape Town mourning the loss of the talented youngster. The 18-year-old – who recently aced her matric and found work as a model in the Mother City – was killed outside of Tin Roof nightclub this weekend after she was run over by a car.

Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, a community member was shot in the leg by unknown suspects in Umzinto, KZN. Residents blocked all the entrances to town as part of a service delivery protest early on Monday.

In Gauteng, the traffic police have arrested more than 25 drivers for speeding in the last two weeks. The drivers were apprehended on the province’s major routes for negligent and reckless driving and failing to adhere to the maximum speed limit of 120km/h on a freeway.

The worst offender was the driver of a white Porsche who was arrested on the N4 on the way to Mpumalanga. The 47-year-old suspect was clocked travelling at 204km/h.

Another month, another petrol price hike. That’s what the experts are predicting for South Africa in February, after the two key indicators which dictate our fuel costs both took turns for the worse. It’s feared that another rise in costs will push the average petrol price over the R20-per-litre mark again.

Although it’s not yet been confirmed by the state, the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) has hinted that the petrol price for Mzansi will be going up in the next few days due to a shift in the rand exchange rate, and the current value of crude oil. Financial analysts Price Waterhouse Cooper also predicted a hike last week.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Tuesday 1 February

Heartbreaking: Cape Town model, 18, killed outside popular nightclub

Tributes have been pouring in for 18-year-old Cape Town resident Olivia Sieff over the past 24 hours, after the promising young talent was run over by a vehicle early on Sunday morning. It’s understood the recent matriculant was leaving the Claremont night-spot of Tin Roof when this tragic incident happened.

Sieff, who was signed to the Boss Models agency in Cape Town, found out 10 days ago that she’d passed her matric with flying colours. The bright student was leaving school with four distinctions to her name.

Sadly, a life with so much in store has been cut short, in devastating fashion. Details remain sketchy about the fatal accident, but some of her friends allegedly witnessed the collision – traumatising them in the process.

Click here to read more about this tragedy.

Umzinto water protest: One person shot – police search for suspects

The roads of Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal, were blocked by protestors early on Monday, 31 January. The protest is the result of the ongoing water shortages in the South Coast town that sees residents go without water for days.

KZN South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Nqobile Gwala told The South African that approximately 150 people set up blockades at all the entrances to Umzinto at 4:00 on Monday morning.

Gwala the people are blocking the roads with burning tyres. The police are on the scene to monitor and stabilise the situation.

“One of the community members was shot on the leg and sustained injuries. Police are still searching for the suspect involved,” said the police spokesperson.

Click here to read more about the protest.

Gauteng Traffic Police: Porsche driver arrested for going 204km/h on N4

The Gauteng traffic police have arrested more than 25 drivers for speeding in the last two weeks, said the provincial department of community safety on Sunday. The drivers were apprehended on the province’s major routes for negligent and reckless driving and failing to adhere to the maximum speed limit of 120km/h on a freeway.

The Gauteng Traffic Police High Speed Unit arrested the suspects on major freeways, including the N1, N4, R21, M1 and N14.

The worst offender was the driver of a white Porsche who was arrested on the N4 on the way to Mpumalanga. The 47-year-old suspect was clocked travelling at 204km/h.

Click here to read more about these speedsters.

‘Painful’ petrol price hike expected this week – due to TWO setbacks…

Another month, another petrol price hike. That’s what the experts are predicting for South Africa in February, after the two key indicators which dictate our fuel costs both took turns for the worse.

It’s feared that another rise in costs will push the average petrol price over the R20-per-litre mark again.

Although it’s not yet been confirmed by the state, the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) has hinted that the petrol price for Mzansi will be going up in the next few days, due to a shift in the rand exchange rate, and the current value of crude oil. Financial analysts Price Waterhouse Cooper also predicted a hike last week.

South Africa imports a large majority of its fuel, meaning that we’re often at the mercy of global markets when the price at the pumps is set. ZAR, which had been standing firm against the US Dollar until very recently, just suffered a ‘terrible week’, losing a significant amount of value against the greenback.

Click here to read more.

‘Potentially fatal’: Two-day extreme heat warning issued for Western Cape

We sincerely hope no-one in the Western Cape has packed their fans or air conditioning units away – because you’re going to need them on full blast for the next 36 hours or so. The SA Weather Service has issued yet another extreme heat warning for the province, and the mercury is already soaring.

This latest extreme heat alert has already come into force on Monday afternoon, with the thermometer set to push 40C in regions such as Drakenstein and Stellenbosch. The Western Cape is still reeling from a weekend where local records came close to breaking point – and the summer heatwave isn’t letting up any time soon…

“Extremely hot conditions are expected over the Drakenstein and Stellenbosch Municipalities on Monday. Heatwave conditions are also expected in Swartland, Cape Town Metro Regions, western parts of the Cape Winelands, Overberg, and Little Karoo right up until Tuesday evening.”

Click here to read more.

LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, Tuesday 1 February

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HOROSCOPE TODAY

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip, and lucky numbers for Tuesday 1 February.