Latest news with #Fortuin
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
‘Moses of Westbury': Former Fast Guns gangster faces demons of the past in ‘Jan Bloed' doccie
'Jan Bloed' tells the story of Alister Fortuin, a former member of the Fast Guns and Varados gangs in Johannesburg's notorious Westbury. Gerrie Janse van Vuuren's first documentary as director and producer, Jan Bloed, will have its international premiere at the 13th kykNET Silwerskermfees on 22 August in Cape Town. The filmmaker's passion for authentic, human-centered storytelling comes to the fore in this raw account of the life of Alister Fortuin, who earned the moniker 'Jan Bloed' as leader of the Fast Guns and Varados gangs in Westbury, Johannesburg. The gangster-turned-pastor – who now strives to be an agent of change in the Westbury community – is also a former general of the notorious 26s gang. Jan Bloed spent 22 years behind bars for his crimes before he was released on parole and became the 'Moses of Westbury'. 'Jan Bloed': Reformed gangster revisits past life in doccie The documentary – which will also make a turn on DStv's kykNET channel and Showmax – takes viewers through the gang-ridden streets of Westbury to revisit Fortuin's old haunts. He takes us to the place where he committed his first murder and shows us Jan Bloed's 'blomspots' ('blom' is Jozi slang for 'hang out' or 'chill'). Alister Fortuin aka Jan Bloed. Picture: Supplied Fortuin also introduces us to characters from his past and present. We meet his mother, Felicity, who says, to her, he was always just Alister, not Jan Bloed. One of Fortuin's biggest regrets is that he abandoned his five-year-old son, Vercaino. The former hardened gangster opens up about his hopes of being a better father and positive influence on Vercaino who has now also ended up in jail. WATCH: 'Jan Bloed' trailer 'Jan Bloed': Alister Fortuin's journey from gangster to pastor Janse van Vuuren and Jan Bloed co-producer Nicolaas Viljoen, explain how Jan Bloed's story came to their attention and why they decided to turn it into a documentary. Viewers are familiar with several movies and stories about gangs in South Africa, but what makes 'Jan Bloed' different? Why was it important to tell this story? The story is very personal and focuses on one person's journey – from being a gang leader to becoming a pastor. Former gangster Alister Fortuin (centre) with Gerrie Janse van Vuuren and Nicolaas Viljoen. Picture: Supplied That is what makes this story so different. It is not just another story of how cruel and rotten gangs are, it is the story of how Alister found himself in a very dark place and received a calling to use his tale as the 'Moses of Westbury' to bring about change. For us, it is important to tell his story, because we can use it to make a difference in a community like Westbury. When stories about gangs are told, the spotlight usually falls on the Cape Flats. Why did you decide to focus on gangs in Johannesburg, specifically in Westbury? That is exactly why we decided on this area – because so much has already been done about the Cape Flats. We live in Johannesburg and Westbury is just around the corner from us. Any efforts to make a difference, must be started in the places near you. Alister, or Jan Bloed as he is called, is very honest about his former life and the crimes he committed. Was it difficult to persuade him to open up about his past? Overall, it was not difficult, but there were times when he came across as vulnerable. Then he wasn't too keen to share a lot of detail. Alister Fortuin shows off his Fast Guns gang tattoos from his days as Jan Bloed on the streets of Westbury. Pictures: Supplied Of course, on other occasions we were startled about what he told us, and we realised how far these guys were prepared to go. Yes, definitely! We always had security with us, and they were constantly aware of what was happening in Westbury. When the situation seemed dangerous, we immediately withdrew our entire team, or we simply rescheduled shooting. We regard ourselves lucky to be able to have done the filming there, because we live in Joburg ourselves. ALSO READ: Portfolio committee on police demands update on probe into police ties with gangs How did you meet Jan Bloed and why did his story grab your attention? We were doing research for another project and were moving around in the Westbury area. While we were having a conversation about Westbury's gangs with one of our contacts, the story of Jan Bloed came up. Alister Fortuin revisits his past in the Westbury gangster documentary 'Jan Bloed'. Picture: Supplied The timing was also perfect, because our police contact bumped into him shortly after and informed us. We went for a coffee together and, as they say, the rest is history. ALSO READ: RIP 'Freddy Gums': 'Noem My Skollie' star David Manuel gunned down on Cape Flats What did you find most disturbing during the filming? And what do you think will shock viewers? How easy it is for some of these guys to take a life. How bloodthirsty they can be, especially the new generation. Viewers will be shocked to hear how young some of the guys are when they join a gang for the first time, as was the case with Alister. Silwerskermfees screening: 'Jan Bloed' ticket info The kykNET Silwerskermfees Film Festival runs from 20 to 23 August 2025. Tickets for the 'Jan Bloed' premiere on 22 August are available from Quicket. The documentary has an age restriction of 13.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Five years in jail for man who made hoax bomb threat to skip work
A Western Cape man who made a hoax bomb threat last year to avoid going to work the next day has been sentenced to five years in prison. The Bellville regional court on Monday convicted Ferdinand Fortuin, 50, who had contacted the Bellville police on Sunday, November 10 2024, telling them he had planted bombs at the department of water & sanitation offices, Transnet Park building and the Bellville taxi rank. 'He gave police hours to evacuate the premises. The accused made these threats after heavy drinking on Sunday and decided that he did not want to go to work on Monday, November 11, 2024,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said. Fortuin left his home in Mamre with the hope that the roads leading to Bellville would be closed because of his bomb threats. 'They were not and he worked the whole day.' In his plea and sentencing agreement, Fortuin confessed he had bought a cellphone from a drug user, which he used to make hoax calls to the police and a toll-free emergency number regarding the placement of explosive devices in the buildings, including the one where he worked. This resulted in the deployment of substantial state resources and the evacuation of thousands of people from the sites he mentioned. At the water & sanitation department offices on Voortrekker Road, police — assisted by three bomb disposal technicians, the K-9 Dog Unit using explosive detection canines and visible policing unit members — evacuated 164 people. Meanwhile, 151 people were evacuated from the department's Bellville South offices. Police also evacuated 250 people from the Transnet Park Building offices, and 3,000 people were evacuated from the taxi rank. 'The taxi rank was closed and roads leading to and out of the taxi rank were closed, resulting in huge panic in the area.' Fortuin was arrested and charged with four counts of contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act (Pocdatara) and for contravening the Explosives Act. The prescribed minimum sentence for contravening Pocdatara is 15 years' imprisonment unless the court finds substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed sentence. 'He was convicted on three counts of Pocdatara and, for purposes of sentencing, the charges were taken together and he was sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment.' The court found that he was a first offender, he had pleaded guilty, had strong personal circumstances, had shown remorse and his acknowledgment of guilt made him a good candidate for a rehabilitative sentence. 'The NPA accepts the sentence of the court and warns that anyone who makes such threats will face tough consequences,' Ntabazalila said.
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Mamre man sentenced to five years for hoax bomb threat
Ferdinand Fortuin was sentenced at the Bellville Regional Court for contravening the Terrorist Act after making a number of bomb threats at various sites in Cape Town last year. A 50-year-old Mamre man has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for making a hoax bomb threat last year. The Bellville Regional Court has sentenced Ferdinand Fortuin to five years' direct imprisonment after he contacted the police, telling them that he had planted bombs at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Transnet Offices, and the Bellville taxi rank. He gave police hours to evacuate the premises. "The accused made these threats following heavy drinking on Sunday, 10 November 2024, and decided that he did not want to go to work on Monday, 11 November 2024. He left his home in Mamre with the hope that the roads leading to Bellville would be closed because of his bomb threats. They were not, and he worked the whole day," the National Prosecuting Authority said in a statement. In his plea and sentencing agreement, Fortuin confessed that he bought a cellphone from a drug user, which he used to make hoax calls to the police and a toll-free emergency number regarding the placement of explosive devices in the buildings, of which one was where he worked.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Man's fake threats to skip work earns him real jail time
Fortuin admitted that he had been drinking heavily the day before and 'did not want to go to work the following day'. A 50-year-old Bellville man who sparked mass panic by making hoax bomb threats to police has been sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment. The Bellville regional court convicted Ferdinand Fortuin on three counts under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA), after he falsely claimed to have planted explosives at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Transnet offices and the Bellville taxi rank. The threats, made on 11 November 2024, forced the evacuation of more than 3 500 people and the deployment of multiple specialised police units. Bomb scare to avoid work According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Fortuin admitted in his plea and sentencing agreement that he had been drinking heavily the day before and 'did not want to go to work the following day'. 'He left his home in Mamre, expecting the roads leading to Bellville to be closed because of his bomb threats. They were not, and he worked the whole day,' the NPA said. Fortuin confessed to buying a cellphone from a drug user to make the hoax calls, including one to the toll-free emergency number, claiming to have placed explosives at the three locations, one of them being his own workplace. ALSO READ: Life for EC man who murdered partner during quarrel Mass evacuations and police deployment The threats triggered a large-scale emergency response. 'At the water and sanitation department offices on Voortrekker Road, police assisted by three bomb disposal technicians, the K-9 Dog Unit, and visible policing unit members evacuated 164 people,' the NPA said. Another 151 people were evacuated from the department's Bellville South offices. Police also cleared 250 people from the Transnet Park Building and evacuated around 3 000 people from the Bellville taxi rank, which was subsequently closed. Roads in and out of the rank were blocked, causing widespread disruption and panic. ALSO READ: Supreme Court upholds 20-year sentence for former ANC MP in R6m AgriB-BBEE fraud case Sentence reduced from minimum term Fortuin faced a prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years unless the court found 'substantial and compelling circumstances' to deviate. The court noted that he was a first offender, had pleaded guilty, shown remorse, and had 'strong personal circumstances' making him a candidate for rehabilitation. He was sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment on all charges combined. NPA regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said they accepted the court's decision but warned that similar offences would be met with severe consequences. 'The NPA will not hesitate to prosecute conduct of this nature to the full extent that the law allows,' he said. NOW READ: Amantle Samane case: Pethe Sara Simao to plead guilty on all counts — lawyer
The South African
6 days ago
- The South African
Bellville drunkard gets prison time after hoax bomb call to dodge work
A Bellville man, Ferdinand Fortuin, who made hoax bomb threats in an attempt to skip work has been sentenced to five years in prison. Last year, he decided, after a night of heavy drinking, that he did not want to go to work. The 50-year-old then used a burner cellphone to call police and a toll-free emergency number. Fortuin claimed explosive devices had been placed at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Transnet offices, and the taxi rank. NPA Western Cape regional communications manager, Eric Ntabazalila, said police, bomb disposal technicians, the K-9 Dog Unit, and visible policing unit members evacuated thousands of people. Authorities closed the taxi rank and the roads leading to and from it, causing huge panic in the area. 'He [Fortuin] left his home in Mamre with the hope that the roads leading to Bellville would be closed because of his bomb threats. They were not, and he worked the whole day,' said Ntabazalila. Fortuin faced four counts under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004 (POCDATARA) and one count under the Explosives Act 26 of 1956. The prescribed minimum sentence for such offences is 15 years' direct imprisonment. However, as a first-time offender who pleaded guilty, and showed remorse Fortuin received a reduced five-year sentence. The NPA accepted the sentence but warned the public that anyone making similar threats will face severe consequences. 'The NPA will not hesitate to prosecute conduct of this nature to the full extent that the law allows,' Ntabazalila added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
