
Paige Bell's GoFundMe page donations near R1 million
At the time of publishing, the page had raised $54 121 (R970 000).
The page has a stated goal of raising $60 000.
Bell, 20, was tragically murdered aboard a £9.5 million superyacht in the Bahamas by a Mexican co-worker last week.
Meanwhile, the man accused of murdering Bell has been pictured for the first time .
Mexican crew member Brigido Munoz allegedly sexually assaulted and killed Bell in the 142-foot vessel's engine room – just days before her 21st birthday.
Munoz appeared in court in capital Nassau, where Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley denied him bail and remanded him in custody until a 20 November hearing.
Munoz, who worked as an engineer on board the Far From It yacht, was not required to enter a plea.
The magistrates court heard Bell was found partially clothed and bloodied, with slash wounds to her neck and defensive injuries on her arms – suggesting she fought for her life.
Munoz was reportedly discovered lying close by with injuries on his arms, in what authorities suspect may have been a failed suicide attempt.
He was rushed to hospital before being charged.
Described by friends as a 'golden girl,' Bell was reportedly just days away from returning to South Africa to celebrate her 21st birthday on 14 July.
Bell's former school, Hillcrest High School, in KwaZulu-Natal, paid tribute to her on social media.
'It is with great sadness that we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends, and all who knew and loved former Hillcrest High School pupil, Paige Bell.
'Paige matriculated in 2022 and is remembered by our HHS community as an incredibly special young lady who was the happiest, most bubbly person.
'We know that her untimely and tragic death is a great loss to all who knew Paige, and beyond devastating to her parents and family.
'As a school we will be holding them in our thoughts and prayers and would like to ask for the support of the greater HHS community in bringing Paige home to her family.
'Please share and donate to the GoFundMe account that was set up, in her honour, to assist her family during this incredibly difficult time.' Post your condolences below, by …
Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Eastern Cape High Court to hear first part of appeal process in Timothy Omotoso case
The Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha will on Monday hear the first part of the appeal process in the case of Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused who were acquitted in April of rape and human trafficking. This follows a directive by judge Irma Schoeman after the state sent a request for clarification of factual findings in her judgment, which is required before the state can request reservation of questions of law in terms of section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Act for consideration by the Supreme Court of Appeal. National Prosecuting Authority national spokesperson Adv Mthunzi Mhaga said this is the 'only limited mechanism in which the state can appeal an acquittal judgment in South African law'. Mhaga said the judge ordered the state and defence to argue the matter before her after Omotoso's attorney notified the registrar that the defence was opposed to the state's request. 'We take the view that it will be appropriate and in order for the judge to provide such clarification before the state can identify and request her to reserve those questions of law,' he said. Omotoso and his two co-accused were acquitted by Schoeman in the Gqeberha high court of rape, sexual assault and human trafficking. Schoeman ruled that while she might subjectively believe the complainants, the state had presented nothing to disprove the account presented by the accused. Omotoso had spent eight years behind bars and faced 32 charges including sexual assault, rape, racketeering and human trafficking. He was alleged to have groomed and abused girls as young as 14, but in April, exactly eight years after his arrest, he walked out a free man, after the judge lambasted the prosecution for rank incompetence and failure to corroborate the charges.

IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
NPA to appeal Timothy Omotoso acquittal on rape and human trafficking charges after his deportation
The National Prosecuting Authority will return to the Gqeberha High Court on Monday to begin its appeal against the acquittal of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso. Image: File The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it will begin its appeal on July 14, in the case of Nigerian pastor and televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused at the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Gqeberha. According to NPA national spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga, the court will hear the first part of the appeal process following a directive from Judge Irma Schoeman. The directive came after the State submitted a request for clarification of factual findings in her judgment, which is required before it can request the reservation of questions of law under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977 for consideration by the Supreme Court of Appeal. 'This is the only limited mechanism in which the state can appeal an acquittal judgment in South African law,' Mhaga said. He added that Judge Schoeman ordered both the state and the defense to argue the matter before her after Omotoso's attorney informed the registrar that the defense opposed the state's request. 'We take the view that it will be appropriate and in order for the Honourable Judge to provide such clarification before the state can identify and request her to reserve those questions of law,' Mhaga said. Omotoso left South Africa in May for Lagos, Nigeria, marking the end of a drawn out legal process that lasted nearly a decade. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He opted to be deported after he was re-arrested by immigration officials in East London on May 10. The Department of Home Affairs has declared him a prohibited person, citing that his continued stay in the country was unlawful. According to Home Affairs, Omotoso is barred from returning to South Africa for the next five years. Earlier this year, on April 2, the Gqeberha High Court acquitted Omotoso of 32 serious charges, including rape. He had originally faced over 90 allegations, including rape, human trafficking and racketeering. His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani, 41, and Zikiswa Sitho, 33, were also acquitted. The trial, which began in 2017, drew national attention and public outrage. Omotoso is the founder of the Durban-based Jesus Dominion International Church. Despite his deportation, the court previously ruled that Omotoso's deportation will be suspended until his application to review the Home Affairs decision is heard. Home Affairs said the controversial pastor has been declared both a prohibited and undesirable person in South Africa. He will only be eligible to reapply for reentry after five years, the department said. IOL


The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Two suspects arrested for kidnapping and murder in Eastern Cape
Two suspects, aged 32 and 33, were arrested in Qumbu, Eastern Cape, for kidnapping two men, one of whom tragically lost his life. The suspects abducted the victims in Qumbu Central Business District. They accused the victims of stealing a sling bag containing two cell phones and cash. After an intensive search, the police located the first victim at his home in Marambeni earlier in June 2025. The 20-year-old victim was found with severe injuries and was hospitalised. The decomposing body of the 22-year-old second victim was found by a community member in dongas (erosion channels) in Mahlungulu. He was found with his hands and legs bound by a rope. The first suspect, Tembalethu Ncudu (32), was arrested on 4 June 2025 and appeared at Qumbu Magistrate's Court on the same day. Taxi owner Sifiso Nene (33) from Mahlungulu, the second suspect, was arrested on 15 June 2025. Both suspects are facing charges of kidnapping and murder. They are currently in custody awaiting their formal bail application, which will be filed on Monday, 14 July 2025, at Qumbu Magistrate's Court. Two suspects made their court appearance before the Praktiseer Magistrate's Court in Tubatse on Friday, 11 July 2025, due to suspected hijacking of a motor vehicle and for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Members of the Tubase tracing team were summoned to Extension 10, Burgersfort, after receiving information about suspicious motor vehicles in the area. Upon arrival, the suspects saw the police and immediately fled the scene, leaving the white polo Volkswagen, suspected to be hijacked, behind. 'The vehicle was tested and it was confirmed to have been reported hijacked during June 2025 in the Tubatse policing area,' read the police statement. Motau was arrested at Extension 10 and was charged with possession of a hijacked vehicle. Mongadi was arrested at a tavern in Riba Cross and is currently facing charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.