News24 | Mauritius rocked by riots; Bombshell audio at Sibiya bail hearing: Today’s top 7 stories
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day.
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News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has defended his request for the army to be deployed during violent protests in Durban over the weekend.
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KZN premier defends army deployment as IFP infighting erupts after Durban unrest
- KwaZulu-Natal Premier and IFP provincial leader Thamsanqa Ntuli defended his request for the army to be deployed following violent protests in Durban over the weekend, pushing back against criticism from within his own party.
- Nineteen people were arrested in connection with the unrest, which prompted Ntuli to call in military support.
- Senior IFP figures, including Sizwe Sikhakhane, have publicly criticised Ntuli’s decision, exposing a sharp internal rift in the party in the aftermath of the unrest.
Baden Watson, who was shot and killed at the Little Britain Pub in Pretoria on Saturday evening.
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Crusaders biker accused of killing MACS member has lengthy police profile, court hears
- Brian Smith, a member of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club, is charged with the shooting death of Baden Watson, a member of the MACS Motorcycle Club.
- Watson was shot and killed at the Little Britain Pub in Pretoria East.
- The court heard on 13 October that Smith has a lengthy police profile, including previous allegations of pointing a firearm, assault and attempted murder.
Self-proclaimed ‘blesser’ Serge Cabonge implicated Sergeant Fannie Nkosi (pictured) as the real middleman between Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala and former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
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‘They’ve been doing things via Fannie Nkosi’: Bombshell recording in Sibiya bail hearing
- Former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya faces charges of rape, sexual grooming of a child, promoting sexual grooming of a child, and trafficking in persons.
- A recording played during his bail hearing features Serge Cabonge stating that he never collected money for Sibiya, and that payments were channelled through suspended organised crime Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, who is alleged to have acted as a middleman between Sibiya and Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
- Cabonge also accused Sibiya of intimidating him and said he had been scapegoated; the bail hearing was postponed to Wednesday.
Gayton McKenzie has rejected social media claims that he rescinded the gazetted renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town.
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‘I have not withdrawn anything’: Gayton McKenzie denies Graaff-Reinet renaming ‘reversal’
- Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has denied social media claims that he reversed or rescinded the official gazetted decision to rename Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town.
- McKenzie stated plainly: “I have not withdrawn anything,” rejecting reports of a reversal as false.
- The renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town had already been formally gazetted before the controversy erupted.
The capital of Mauritius, Port Louis. On Monday, protesters blocked roads across the country in riots sparked by water shortages and high living costs.
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Mauritius rocked by worst riots since 1999
- Protests over severe water shortages and high living costs, which began on 7 October, escalated sharply after police shot and injured a 27-year-old woman – a bullet was later surgically removed by specialists flown in for the procedure.
- Demonstrators blocked roads with burning tyres, furniture and mattresses; a police station in Rose Hill was set alight; schools were closed and businesses were urged to allow staff to work from home.
- The officer who fired the shot has been arrested and charged; the prime minister called an emergency Cabinet meeting, urged calm, and authorities say order has since been restored with banks and the stock exchange reopened.
Wiaan Mulder walks off on Day 5 at Kingsmead.
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FIRST TAKE | Dismal in Durban: A Test to forget for Proteas
- Australia defeated South Africa in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, in what was described as a heavy and comprehensive loss for the Proteas.
- It was the first Test defeat for South Africa under captain Temba Bavuma, with Australia’s Pat Cummins prominent among the visiting side’s key contributors.
- The Proteas’ performance across the match was widely criticised, with their batting and overall showing against Australia’s attack falling well short of what was required.
RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr in Breaking Bad, has died at 34.
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RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr on ‘Breaking Bad’, has died
- RJ Mitte, the actor best known for playing Walter White Jr in the acclaimed TV series Breaking Bad, died at the age of 34; his representatives announced his death on Monday, 13 October 2026, with no cause immediately given.
- Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, was also a prominent disability-rights advocate, serving as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and as president of The Mitte Foundation.
- Tributes poured in from his Breaking Bad castmates: Bryan Cranston recalled watching Mitte “grow into a really fine actor” from the age of 14; Aaron Paul wrote “RJ, I love you, my friend. You will be missed”; and Dean Norris called the news “heartbreaking”, describing Mitte as “a sweetheart of a young man”.
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