Fatal Shooting at Etwatwa Caltex Garage Leaves Multiple Victims

Etwatwa, Ekurhuleni – A deadly shooting incident unfolded yesterday afternoon at a Caltex Garage in Etwatwa, within the Ekurhuleni region. Reports from witnesses indicate that multiple people were targeted by gunfire, leading to at least one confirmed death.

Details regarding the precise count of those affected and the events leading up to the violence are still not fully known. Authorities are actively piecing together the sequence of events.

Local police have acknowledged the occurrence and stated that a formal inquiry is in progress. Additional information is anticipated to emerge as the probe advances.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma Referenced in Newly Released Epstein Documents

Johannesburg, February 1, 2026 – Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been named in a batch of documents released by the United States Department of Justice related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The files, unsealed on January 23, 2026, include over 3 million pages of records from Epstein’s estate and associated legal proceedings.

The references to Zuma appear in a series of emails dated March 2010, during his official state visit to the United Kingdom. Zuma served as South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018 and undertook the three-day visit from March 3 to March 5, 2010, at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. The emails detail arrangements for a private dinner held at the Ritz Hotel in London on the evening of March 5, 2010.

One email, sent on March 4, 2010, by Mark Lloyd, who is identified in the correspondence as an associate assisting Epstein, states: “I have been asked to help arrange a small dinner tomorrow night for President Jacob Zuma of South Africa at the Ritz Hotel at 7pm.” The message was addressed to a woman named Vera, and subsequent communications discuss inviting a Russian model to the event to “add glamour.” A follow-up email describes the model’s positive impression on the attendees, including Zuma.

The dinner attendees included Zuma, his wife at the time, Thobeka Madiba-Zuma, the Russian model, and other individuals connected to Epstein’s circle. The event took place on the final day of Zuma’s state visit, which involved official engagements such as meetings at Buckingham Palace. By 2010, Epstein had already been convicted in 2008 on charges related to procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida, serving 13 months in custody under a plea deal.

The documents do not contain any allegations of criminal activity, misconduct, or wrongdoing on Zuma’s part. Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, was known for his connections to high-profile figures in politics, business, and entertainment. The latest release of files stems from ongoing civil litigation linked to Epstein’s network, including lawsuits involving his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges.

In response to the reports, the Jacob Zuma Foundation issued a statement denouncing the references as an “attempt to smear” the former president’s reputation. The foundation emphasized that it would not tolerate such efforts and declined to engage further on the matter. Zuma, now 83, has faced various legal challenges in South Africa, including corruption trials related to arms deals from the 1990s, but none connected to the Epstein documents.

The release of these files has prompted discussions in South African media and online platforms, with some noting the timing coincides with other domestic political developments. However, the emails remain the sole point of reference to Zuma in the disclosed materials. The US Department of Justice has indicated that portions of the files were redacted to exclude sensitive content, including images depicting death, physical abuse, or injury.

Six Killed, 18 Injured in Shooting Ambush on Taxi Near Meyerton

MEYERTON, Gauteng – A minibus taxi travelling from Johannesburg to Lesotho came under sudden attack on the R59 highway near Meyerton on Tuesday afternoon, February 3, 2026, resulting in six fatalities and 18 people wounded.

The victims, all Lesotho nationals, included four women and two men among the deceased. The 18 survivors sustained gunshot wounds and injuries from the vehicle overturning; they are receiving treatment in hospital.

Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana, who addressed the media at the scene, described the incident as an unprovoked shooting. A white Nissan Juke, reported stolen in Witbank in September 2025, approached the minibus and its three occupants opened fire. The taxi driver attempted to evade the attackers by pushing their vehicle off the road, which caused the Nissan Juke to lose control.

The suspects exited their vehicle, crossed a small bridge on foot, and hijacked a Datsun GO from a woman in the area. They fled in the hijacked car, but it ended up in a ditch in the Kliprivier area. Police, assisted by K9 units, drones, helicopters, Public Order Policing, Kliprivier Visible Policing, Midvaal Traffic Department, Midvaal peace officers, and private security, tracked and arrested all three suspects – also Lesotho nationals.

Major General Kekana confirmed that the arrests followed a coordinated operation after officers encountered the hijacked woman and initiated a pursuit. Forensic teams remain at the scene processing evidence, including recovering firearms.

The suspects face charges of six counts of murder, 18 counts of attempted murder, carjacking, and possession of a hijacked motor vehicle. They are expected to appear in court shortly.

Investigations continue to establish the full circumstances of the attack. No motive has been publicly disclosed.

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