Talented Pietermaritzburg musician and front man for the popular group Plush, Chas Smit, was killed in the early hours of September 18. He was leaving the Winston Churchill Theatre with the rest of the band when a vehicle driven by former top Comrades Marathon personality Linda Barron collided with him.

Chas Smit formed Plush with Rory Elliot ten years ago when they were both students at Maritzburg College. Plush won the RP Emerging Sounds Battle of the Bands contest in 2002. Their performance at the Winston Churchill marked the first leg of a national tour.