Any guesses what 2016 stories received the most reads in Benoni? Here’s the list
While 2016 is drawing to a close, the City Times looks back at the 10 most read stories for the year on www.benonicitytimes.co.za
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/HeatherBender_73265.jpg)
Here is the list in descending order:
• Lotto winner dies in car crash
Nhlanhla Dlamini, who won an R18-million lottery jackpot in 2014, died on impact together with his passenger on May 9. He was driving a Mercedes-Benz in KwaZulu-Natal.
![A national lottery winner was killed in an accident near Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/sitemgr_photo_1450959-520x338.jpg)
• Man murdered, wife raped in home invasion
A man was murdered and his wife raped in their home in Benoni’s agricultural holdings in the early hours of October 28. Police had on December 15 not made any arrests in connection with the crime.
• UPDATE: Soldier found dead in home after house robbery
Carel Bamberger (57) was alone at his Northmead home when he was murdered by an alleged house robber(s). The crime took place on May 26.
![The Northmead house where a Benoni soldier was murdered on May 26.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/IMG_1420-Custom-Large-520x400.jpg)
• Princess Charlene sings a country song for her father’s 70th
Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco celebrated the 70th birthday of her father, Mike Wittstock, at Emperors Palace on February 8. The beautiful princess chose to sing Mike a Kenny Rogers classic, The Gambler, at Aurelia’s Restaurant.
![Princess Charlene, dressed in a cowgirl outfit, presents her father, Mike Wittstock, with a special cigar on his 70th birthday at Emperors Palace on Monday night, February 8.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/charlene_60416-520x400.jpg)
• UPDATE: Officer killed while fishing
Maj Coert Jordaan (39) from the EMPD Equestrian Unit left behind his wife and three-year-old daughter, after a day out fishing went awry and led to his death on Wednesday, January 27. Though Jordaan was a resident of Brakpan, the Equestrian Unit, which he formed a part of, is based in Petit.
![Coert Jordaan (39) was killed at Aston Lake, in Springs on Wednesday, January 27. He leaves behind his wife and daughter of three years.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/coert-520x400.jpg)
• New rules in place when renewing licences
Regulation 32A of the National Road Traffic Regulations commenced on November 1, 2015, meaning that anyone who wishes to transact with a licensing authority and the NaTIS System will be compelled to provide proof of their address details.
• UPDATE: Loved ones gather at Farrarmere supermarket to mourn
Loved ones of the late Ernest Sardinha (45) gathered outside his Farrarmere grocery store to pay their respects on Thursday night (June 23). Ernest’s body was found in Mpumalanga on June 23. About 50 people arrived at the Bayley Street supermarket at around 7pm, and lit candles and prayed for the businessman.
![Nicola Morgan-Evens is a friend of the Sardinha family. She went to high school with Ernest Sardinha.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/IMG_2554_74142-520x400.jpg)
• Man was ‘split second away’ from shooting West Pack robbers
A man was injured when he was shot during an armed robbery at West Pack Lifestyle Benoni, on August 21. The owner of the branch, King de Castro, said a group of gunmen entered the shop at about 2pm and held up employees and customers.
• UPDATE: Superbike racer (19) dies
An accident on Pretoria Road killed 19-year-old superbike racer Anthony Shelley on April 4.
![Anthony Shelley at Zwartkops Raceway, where he achieved his first major victory at the 10th National 600 Super Sport Race, in September 2013. Photo: Racepics](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/Anthonyturn1_59653-520x400.jpg)
Fakrudeen Muthalib was killed in a shooting at The Benoni Butcher Co. on March 17. His business partner, Ra-ees Ebrahim, decided to close the doors of establishment shortly after the incident.
![Heather Bender, who was a regular customer at The Benoni Butcher Co., placing flowers outside the butchery as a sign of respect for the late Fakrudeen Muthalib.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/12/HeatherBender_73265-520x400.jpg)