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Man held for murder of DigiCore director

Martin Czernowalow
By Martin Czernowalow, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 15 Apr 2013
The motive for the killing of businessman Nhlanhla Gasa remains unknown.
The motive for the killing of businessman Nhlanhla Gasa remains unknown.

A 25-year-old man is due to appear in the Durban Magistrates' Court this morning, in connection with the murder of DigiCore Holdings director Nhlanhla Gasa.

The 63-year-old KwaZulu-Natal businessman's body was found floating in the Tugela River three weeks ago, not far from his burnt-out Jaguar luxury sedan.

Police on Saturday arrested a man who - according to media reports - had been in hiding in the Eastern Cape for the past three weeks. He is set to face charges of murder and malicious damage to property.

Police had earlier dismissed robbery as a motive, as nothing was missing from Gasa's home, despite bloodstains having been found at the residence. This led investigators to believe Gasa's house had been the initial scene of the attack, and police are investigating whether the attacker was known to Gasa.

It is believed Gasa had been attacked at his Umhlanga home, before being driven to the river in his car. Police say the car was then set alight and his body dumped in the river.

Detectives are searching for the motive for the attack and could also not confirm whether further suspects are being sought in connection with the murder.

Gasa served on JSE-listed DigiCore's board as non-executive director and chairman until June 2011 and subsequently as lead independent director.

He reportedly had close ties with the ANC, was a known associate of president Jacob Zuma, and was chief executive of Gasa and Associates, a management and HR consultancy. Gasa was also former chairperson of Umgeni Water.

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