A South African man linked to a major police corruption probe was found dead after reportedly taking his own life, while a US court ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said she was raped by a driver. Additionally, reports indicate that many smart motorways in England are failing to deliver expected value for money. These are among the top news stories emerging from the BBC.
Wiandre Pretorius, 41, died after allegedly shooting himself at a petrol station, according to police reports. His name had surfaced in the ongoing Madlanga Commission, a corruption inquiry, in connection with the 2022 murder of a witness, Emmanuel Mbense, allegedly at the hands of police officers. A police spokesperson confirmed that four of the twelve individuals named as persons of interest in the Mbense case are now deceased. The police received reports of the incident at approximately 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday.
In a separate development, a US court ruled that Uber must pay $8.5 million to a woman, Jaylynn Dean, who claimed she was raped by an Uber driver. The federal lawsuit, heard in Arizona, found Uber responsible for the driver's actions after a two-day deliberation. Uber has stated its intention to appeal the verdict. The jury rejected additional claims made in the lawsuit, including allegations of negligence and defective safety systems, according to Technology Reporter Kali Hays.
Meanwhile, reports from National Highways indicate that many smart motorways in England are not providing the expected value for money. Two schemes, involving sections of the M25 and the M6, were deemed to offer "very poor" value. Only three out of sixteen projects were on track to deliver the anticipated financial benefits, although most were meeting safety benefit forecasts, according to National Highways. The AA, representing motorists, described the schemes as a "catastrophic waste of time, money and effort."
In other news, Ghanaian highlife musician Ebo Taylor passed away at the age of 90. Taylor, a guitarist, composer, and band leader, was a key figure in defining the highlife genre and influencing generations of African musicians. He rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s, playing with leading bands and developing a distinctive guitar style, according to his family.
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