'Fast Guns' gangsters get life for shots that killed child on Cape Flats
Two members of the Fast Guns gang have been sentenced to life imprisonment in Cape Town for a brazen shooting that claimed the life of a five-year-old child and the attempted murder of nine other people in Lavender Hill, Cape Town.
Carlo Hofmeester and Chadwin Isaacs were convicted by the high court in Cape Town for contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and the murder of five-year-old Valentino Grootetjie on December 21 2019.
They were also handed 10 years imprisonment for each of the nine counts of attempted murder, five years for illegal possession of firearms and three years for illegal possession of ammunition. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
'State advocate Leon Snyman proved the accused were members of the Fast Guns gang who were engaged in drug turf wars with the Mongrels gang in Lavender Hill and surrounding areas,' said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila on Tuesday.
On the day of the shooting, Mongrels gang members gathered at 37 Drury Court in Lavender Hill to smoke and socialise in what was regarded as Mongrels gang territory. Two of the other victims were at 36 Drury Court.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Pule Mabe's corruption case postponed to July as final charge sheet is still pending
The corruption case involving former ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe and six co-accused individuals has been postponed to July 7 as the State works to finalise the charge sheet. The decision was announced during court proceedings on Tuesday at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Ekurhuleni. Mabe, 44, his wife Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe, 46, and five others — Loyiso Mkwana, Thandeka Mbassa, Matilda Gasela, Abdullah Mohamed Ismail, and Mabe's business associate Tinyiko Mahuntsi — appeared briefly before Magistrate Brian Nemavhidi. All seven accused are currently out on bail of R30 000 each. State prosecutor Magdeline Montwedi Mclean told the court that the defence and prosecution had agreed to postpone proceedings to allow the State time to provide the final charge sheet by June 30. If delivered on time, the accused may be issued a trial date at their next court appearance on July 7. Mabe, once a prominent figure in the ruling African National Congress, is at the centre of a case stemming from a controversial R27 million tender awarded in 2017 to his company, Enviro Mobi. The company was contracted by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to supply 200 three-wheeled motorised waste collection vehicles — known as tuk-tuks — intended to support 58 waste pickers in the Ekurhuleni municipality. According to the state, the contract was awarded under irregular and fraudulent circumstances. Investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Hawks revealed that Enviro Mobi received R27 231 750 in payments 'without any service rendered.' In addition, over R6 million was allegedly paid out to cover storage expenses for the tuk-tuks, despite no record of the vehicles being deployed for their intended purpose. Phindi Mjonondwane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said that the charges against the accused include theft, fraud, and violations of both the Public Finance Management Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Mjonondwane further detailed how the procurement process was manipulated. A public tender was advertised on February 10, 2017, calling for proposals to support the integration of small and medium waste enterprises into Gauteng's waste management economy. Ten companies responded, including Enviro Mobi, which allegedly lacked the necessary experience and technical capacity to fulfil the tender's requirements.'Enviro Mobi was awarded the tender despite serious shortcomings,' Mjonondwane explained. 'The State alleges that Makwana, Mbassa, and Ismail facilitated the unlawful appointment of Enviro Mobi, represented by Pule Mabe. At the time, the company reportedly denied any links to government officials or members of Parliament.' Mabe had served as director of Enviro Mobi from 2010 to 2014 and was a signatory on the business account of KGP Media Holdings, one of the companies charged in the case. Both Star Mass Direct and KGP Media Holdings — formerly known as Kariki Media Holdings and Groen Mintirho, respectively — are also facing charges. The SIU and Hawks allege that from March 2017 onwards, Enviro Mobi submitted invoices exceeding R26 million with no accompanying documentation to verify the completion of work or delivery of services. Prominent defence attorney Zola Majavu is representing Mabe, his wife, and their companies. Neither the accused nor their legal representatives made public comments following the postponement on Tuesday. The next court appearance on July 7 is expected to bring further clarity, with the potential for a trial date to be set depending on the State's readiness and finalisation of charges. The case has drawn significant attention given Mabe's previous high-profile role in South African politics and the growing scrutiny over government procurement processes.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
NPA seeks extension to finalise charges in Pule Mabe corruption case
Kamogelo Moichela | Published 9 hours ago The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has requested additional time to finalise the charge sheet in the corruption case involving former African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson Pule Mabe. During court proceedings on Tuesday, State prosecutor Magdaline Montwedi-Mclean confirmed that while all relevant documents had been handed over to the defence, the finalised charge sheet remains outstanding. Montwedi-Mclean assured the court that the prosecution was in the final stages of preparing the charge sheet and committed to presenting it before the next scheduled hearing. "The State has since furnished all the accused with the charge sheet from the docket, which was the State's first draft of the charge sheet,' she said. The defence legal teams have requested access to the final charge sheet at least one week before the next court date, as proceedings in the corruption case. The matter was postponed to July 7, following a brief appearance by Mabe and his six co-accused at the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Tuesday. The group faces a total of 16 charges, including fraud, money laundering, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act. The charges stem from a controversial R27 million tender awarded in 2017 to Mabe's company, Enviro Mobi, for the supply of 200 three-wheeler motorbikes to the City of Ekurhuleni. Tuesday's proceedings marked the case's return to court after a three-month adjournment, granted to allow the NPA time to furnish additional documents requested by the defence. [email protected] IOL Politics
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
Kubayi: NPA capacity up as state capture cases progress
Kubayi says the NPA improved its performance to 73%, expanded staff by 34%, and is prioritising skills training to support effective state capture prosecutions. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has reported steady progress by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in prosecuting state capture cases, following the Zondo Commission Report's release and ongoing capacity-building efforts. The ministers responsible for peace and security – namely, Kubayi, and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola – appeared before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for a question-and-answer session on Tuesday afternoon. Kubayi responded to questions about capacity challenges at the NPA and the progress in prosecuting state capture-related cases since the submission of the Zondo Commission Report to the president. NPA capacity increased from 50% to 73% – Kubayi ANC MP Lydia Mananiso asked Kubayi about the NPA's capacity. In response, Kubayi reported that the NPA improved its capacity performance from 50% in 2020/2021 to 73% in 2023/2024, attributing the increase to better-resourced and more capable organisations. She said the NPA's staff establishment has expanded by 34% since 2019, with a reduced vacancy rate and a drive to fill 268 posts by the end of May 2025. She added that the department continues to prioritise training and skills development, with 148 training programmes planned and 60 employees benefiting from the initiative so far. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa, Chief Justice mourn passing of Judge Temba Sangoni The minister acknowledged the public outcry from recent cases, like Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso's acquittal and former personal assistant to Ace Magashule Moroadi Cholota's case. 'If we look at these two cases, there are lessons to be learned from them, and more work can be done in terms of support and providing oversight over these cases, but a lot of work is being done,' she said. Prosecutor caseloads In terms of the NPA's assessments of caseloads, Kubayi provided detailed statistics on the workload per prosecutor in district and regional courts. Kubayi noted that district court prosecutors each handle an average of 80 outstanding cases, while those in regional courts manage 53. She said prosecutors handled an average of 207 decision dockets in the past financial year. She said prosecutors district courts finalise an average of 105 valid cases per year, while regional court prosecutors finalise 26. Comparing South Africa's workload to international counterparts, Kubayi said local prosecutors are not overburdened relative to peers in countries such as Thailand, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Australia. ALSO READ: Dirco confirms death of SA citizen in West Virginia, US 'The fact remains, based on statistics, they are not functioning out of the norm… The fact is that we've done comparisons with other people, and they are actually, in some instances, having less of a workload than the others,' she said. The minister added that prosecutors have the option to raise their workload concerns with their supervisors. State capture case progress On the matter of state capture, Kubayi detailed the NPA's progress, highlighting the enrolment of several high-profile cases and the Asset Forfeiture Unit's role in stripping profits gained from criminal activity. Since the Zondo Commission Report's release, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has reviewed 120 recommendations. Of these, 82 remain under investigation, 23 are before the courts, and four have been finalised. The minister said IDAC is also handling 57 cases where no specific recommendations were made, with 28 cases before courts, 28 under investigation and six being considered for authorisation. 'IDAC only came into operation in August 2024 and has been focused on this work. Therefore, the recruitment of investigators only commenced recently, so the issue of investigative capacity still affects IDAC capacity,' Kubayi said. ALSO READ: Batohi clarifies NPA infiltration claims to justice minister amid criticism When asked if the department had vetted NPA investigators and prosecutors to prevent internal sabotage or case compromises, Kubayi responded that she does not interfere in prosecutorial decisions. Instead, she focuses on ensuring the NPA operates in a conducive and independent environment. She confirmed that there was consistent vetting and that all employees were required to undergo lifestyle audits to detect any wrongdoing. 'We also call upon the public if there are cases that you know of or individuals within our ranks that you know are acting outside what they are supposed to do, to be able to alert us,' the minister said. Lamola, who was speaking from the G7 Summit in Canada, answered questions about repositioning the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) in the current geopolitical climate and plans to address illegal immigration. Lamola reiterates SA's commitment to SADC The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice, Jane Mananiso, asked Lamola about South Africa's role in repositioning the SADC and AU immediately in the changing geopolitics and international order. He also reiterated South Africa's commitment to the SADC, emphasising the country's role in promoting regional growth, integration, and conflict resolution. ALSO READ: SA calls for urgent probe after 32 Palestinians killed while waiting for food He described the global political landscape as volatile, with a focus on the scramble for African resources and political influence. Lamola said South Africa's strategy was to counter geopolitical technical support and meet financial obligations to SADC. 'The AU is an important organisation and agency to advance South Africa's vision of a better Africa in a better world, despite the ever-changing geopolitical and international order,' the minister said. Continued support for peacekeeping efforts Addressing South Africa's peacekeeping responsibilities and lessons from the mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Lamola affirmed the country's continued support for peacekeeping efforts under SADC. On Friday evening, the first group of 249 South African soldiers who were deployed in eastern DRC returned home. 'South Africa continues to engage and brief all missions in South Africa from the continent on the prevailing environment and the situation and continues to work with all our partners and stakeholders in the country to maintain peace and security, and also to continue to build tolerance amongst South Africans and also foreign nationals,' he said. UDM MP Matthewis Mandla Peter questioned Lamola about strategies to collaborate with other African countries to curb illegal immigration through formal agreements and coordinated efforts to address root causes. ALSO READ: Kubayi condemns murder of young prosecutor in Eastern Cape Lamola acknowledged South Africa's role as a destination for both regular and irregular migrants and stressed the need for a coordinated, continent-wide approach. He cited the African Union's Migration Policy Framework for Africa and its related protocols and action plan as guiding instruments. 'The management of illegal migration on the continent cannot be removed from the broader challenges of migration facing the international community. Migration has always been a geopolitical issue, more so in this current geopolitical climate,' Lamola said.
