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Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Daily Maverick
‘We are completely broken,' say parents of five-year-old killed in gang crossfire
Attending the trial of the two gangsters who killed their five-year-old son has been a sombre ritual for Patrick Kotze and Romana Grootetjie. Since May this year, members of the media have clustered in a courtroom of the Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town, chronicling the trial of Jerome 'Donkey' Booysen. Alongside several alleged underworld kingpins, the notorious, alleged boss of the Sexy Boys gang is on trial for the murder of 'Steroid King' Brian Wainstein. Simultaneously, but unnoticed, a man and woman have been entering the court daily, arms entwined, as they make their way to an adjacent courtroom. This has been a sombre ritual for Patrick Kotze and Romana Grootetjie, the parents of five-year-old Valentino Romano, who was gunned down on 21 December 2019. Since mid-April, they have provided agonising testimony to the tragedy that unfolded in their backyard in Lavender Hill. And they have silently wept as the trial unfolded of two gangsters accused of murdering the little boy while in pursuit of rival gang members. The couple have winced while grisly details emerged of rival turf wars and the deadly consequences on children, especially their beloved Valentino. Yet each day, leading up to judgment, they have returned, hurting, but hopeful, to a room that is empty except for the judge, court officials, investigating officer, legal counsel and, of course, the accused. After a trial lasting several weeks, Carlo Hofmeester (aka 'Naruto') and Chadwin Isaacs (aka 'Water') were convicted on Thursday by Judge Melanie Holderness on 13 of 17 counts, including murder, attempted murder, contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition. Both were acquitted on one of three firearms and ammunition counts and two counts of attempted murder. Sentence will be delivered on 11 June. Kotze and Grootetjie are satisfied with the multiple convictions and appreciate the support they received from advocate Leon Snyman and the investigating officer, Siyasanga Mapukata. 'It was the first time we had been in a courtroom. We felt so alone, and we didn't know what to do, or who to trust,' said Kotze. 'But we were strengthened by advocate Snyman, and Sergeant Mapukata fetched us for court and took us home every day. Through their support, we could stand tall and give truthful testimony.' Emotional The State's main witness, Kotze, had maintained his composure throughout the trial. However, after the verdict, he wept in the arms of Grootetjie. An equally emotional Grootetjie declared: 'Although we are grateful, we are completely broken. No parent should ever have to lose a child, especially like this. I shall make sure these gangsters never get out of prison to destroy any more young lives.' At around 2.15 pm on that tragic day, Valentino — the eldest of three siblings — was playing with his younger brother in the yard of the family's Wendy house, at 37 Drury Court in Lavender Hill. It is situated in 'turf' belonging to the Mongrels — one of Cape Town's most notorious street gangs. Corroborated by several witnesses, Kotze's testimony described a scene of confusion, terror and carnage. On 21 December 2019, the Mongrels had congregated nearby. Despite intermittent truces, they were constantly competing with a rival gang, the Fast Guns, for control of Lavender Hill's drug trade. Armed with guns and ammunition, the accused — members of the Fast Guns — were instructed by a senior gang member, John Dickson, to 'take out' a member of the Mongrels. In the ensuing gunfight, Wesley Kok, aka 'Salibom', a Mongrel gang member, was shot and wounded at Drury Court. Kotze testified that he saw Hofmeester — Accused No 1 — running towards him as he (Kotze) was returning from a shop. When Kotze reached the gate at 37 Drury Court, he warned the people inside and closed the gate. Hofmeester grabbed him. Kotze pulled loose and fled. Glancing back, he saw Hofmeester open the gate leading to 37 Drury Court, enter and shoot into the yard. Hofmeester then met Isaacs at a shop. Isaacs ran towards 37 Drury Court, opened the gate and shot into the yard. The two gang members also fired at other occupants of the premises as well as community members nearby. They then fled the scene, leaving Valentino fatally wounded. The suspects were arrested two days later, but during 2020, Dickson — the 'mastermind' — died in Pollsmoor Prison from a suspected heart attack. The trial was subsequently dogged by delays until April this year. Caught in the crossfire Valentino's murder and trial have been wrought with irony. The judgment comes in the middle of Child Protection Week and the commencement of Youth Month. Both commemorations serve as a stark indictment of the perils facing children, many of whom are caught in the crossfire of Cape Town's gang wars. 'It is shameful that during Child Protection Week and Youth Month, we have not stepped up as adults to protect our children,' said Lucinda Evans, of Philisa Abafazi Bethu, an emergency shelter for women and child victims of violence. According to the Western Cape Department of Health, between January and June 2024, 333 children were treated for firearm-related injuries at public health facilities. During the same period, 58 children — some as young as 12 months — were killed in shooting incidents. The child-body count continues, with new names added to the catalogue of carnage. The crisis has been described by community members across the Cape Flats as a form of urban terror, in which children are collateral damage in a madness not of their making. One such incident occurred in February 2025, when four-year-old Davin Africa was fatally shot while asleep in his home in Happiness Street, Wesbank, on Cape Town's periphery. This incident happened almost two years after his 12-year-old sister died, reportedly in gang crossfire. 'This is not a suitable environment for children, as they are not safe even in their own backyard,' said Romana Grootetjie. Adding perverse irony to tragedy, on the day that Valentino was murdered, the funeral of slain drug kingpin Rashied Staggie was held. No expense was spared for his celebrity send-off, while Valentino's destitute parents had to rely on donations to give their son a decent burial. Unable to afford relocation from Drury Court, they constantly relive the trauma, terror and unremitting grief of his murder. And although there was extensive press coverage of Valentino's murder, to date there has been no reportage of the trial. But Grootetjie and Kotze refuse to allow Valentino's memory to be muffled. They plan to marry on 22 June: Valentino's birthday. 'Our angel might not be here with us on our special day,' said Kotze. 'But we will celebrate his life, our love, and our hopes for the safety of our children.' DM
Eyewitness News
30-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
NPA welcomes life sentence handed to elderly man convicted of raping girl (6)
JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the life sentence handed down to a 79-year-old man convicted of raping a 6-year-old girl. Johannes Kotze assaulted the girl in 2019 at a commune where the child lived with her mother. Kotze pleaded not guilty, denying the rape and alleging that the child's parents fabricated the case. The Pretoria Magistrates Court has also further ordered that Kotze's name be added on the national register for sex offenders. The NPA said that the conviction underscored its commitment to protecting society's most vulnerable. Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana: "The NPA urges communities to remain vigilant and report GBV and child abuse promptly. Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) stand ready to provide medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors."
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- The Citizen
Pretoria pensioner sentenced to life for raping girl (6)
A 79-year-old Pretoria man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of raping a six-year-old girl, with the court also declaring him unfit to work with children or own a firearm. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the Pretoria North Magistrates' Court handed down the life imprisonment sentence to Johannes Jacobus Christiaan Kotze. 'Kotze also received five years each for two counts of sexual assault, to run concurrently with the life sentence. 'The court further ordered that his name be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to work with children and unfit to possess a firearm.' She said Kotze rented a room at a commune where the six-year-old girl was staying with her mother. 'The victim referred to him as 'Oupa' even though they were not biologically related. Mahanjana said the mother found her child in Kotze's room on October 3, 2019 when she searched for her but could not find her where she was supposed to be playing. 'When she entered, he immediately pulled his hands away from the child, which brought made the mother suspicious.' The mother took the child out of the room and questioned her. 'The child then disclosed to her mother that Kotze had raped her by digitally penetrating her, touching her private parts, and forcing her to touch him,' said Mahanjana. 'The child further revealed that these acts were not isolated incidents. The mother immediately reported the matter to the police, leading to Kotze's arrest on October 24 2019.' Kotze pleaded not guilty, denying the rape and alleging the child fabricated the case due to a dispute over their tenancy at the commune. However, State Prosecutor Hanlie Du Preez presented compelling evidence, including the victim's testimony and corroborating reports, proving Kotze's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mahanjana said during sentencing, Kotze sought leniency, citing his age and ill health. 'Du Preez countered that his lack of remorse, the gruesome nature of the crime, and its lasting trauma on the victim, who continues to suffer nightmares, warranted no deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. She argued that age alone could not excuse such a heinous act.' Regional Court Magistrate Piet Nel agreed with the state, stating that rape is a scourge in our society, and the absence of remorse aggravates this crime; therefore, he found no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify leniency; he imposed life imprisonment, reinforcing the judiciary's stance against GBV. The NPA urges communities to remain vigilant and report GBV and child abuse promptly. Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) stand ready to provide medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- The Citizen
Pretoria pensioner sentenced to life for raping six-year-old girl
A 79-year-old Pretoria pensioner will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of raping a 6-year-old girl, with the court imposing a life sentence and declaring him unfit to work with children or own a firearm. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the Pretoria North Magistrates' Court handed down the life imprisonment sentence to Johannes Jacobus Christiaan Kotze, a 79-year-old. 'Kotze also received five years each for two counts of sexual assault, to run concurrently with the life sentence. 'The court further ordered that his name be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to work with children and unfit to possess a firearm.' She said Kotze rented a room at a commune where the six-year-old girl was staying with her mother. 'The victim referred to him as Oupa even though they were not biologically related. 'On October 03, 2019, the mother of the child had a feeling that something was wrong with her child and needed to look for her. 'When she could not find the child where she was supposed to be playing, she went to look for her in Kotze's room. When she entered, he immediately pulled his hands away from the child, which brought suspicion to the mother.' The mother then grabbed the child and took her to their room, where she questioned her. 'The child then disclosed to her mother that Kotze had raped her by digitally penetrating her, touching her private parts, and forcing her to touch him. 'The child further revealed that these acts were not isolated incidents. The mother immediately reported the matter to the police, leading to Kot on October 24 2019.' Kotze pleaded not guilty, denying the rape and alleging the child fabricated the case due to a dispute over their tenancy at the commune. However, State Prosecutor Hanlie Du Preez presented compelling evidence, including the victim's testimony and corroborating reports, proving Kotze'silt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mahanjana said during sentencing, Kotze sought leniency, citing his age and ill health. 'Du Preez countered that his lack of remorse, the gruesome nature of the crime, and its lasting trauma on the victim, who continues to suffer nightmares, warranted no deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. She argued that age alone could not excuse such a heinous act.' Regional Court Magistrate Piet Nel agreed with the state, stating that rape is a scourge in our society, and the absence of remorse aggravates this crime; therefore, he found no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify leniency; he imposed life imprisonment, reinforcing the judiciary's stance against GBV. The NPA urges communities to remain vigilant and report GBV and child abuse promptly. Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) stand ready to provide medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors. 'This case highlights the critical role of caregivers, like the victims, in exposing abuse and seeking justice.' Also read: Here are the most dangerous suburbs in Pretoria Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- The Citizen
'Oupa' (79) sentenced to life in prison for rape of 6-year-old girl
The little girl referred to him as 'oupa', though they were not biologically related. A 79-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for raping a six-year-old girl who called him 'oupa' (grandfather). Jacobus Christiaan Kotze appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court, where the sentence was handed down. Sentence Kotze also received five years each for two counts of sexual assault, with the sentences to run concurrently with his life term. The court further ordered Kotze's name be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to work with children and unfit to possess a firearm. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the sentence. ALSO READ: Laerskool Dalmondeor staff member arrested for alleged sexual assault of grade 2 pupil Trial NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Kotze pleaded not guilty, denying the rape and alleging the child's parents fabricated the case due to a dispute over their tenancy at the commune. 'State Prosecutor Hanlie Du Preez presented compelling evidence, including the victim's testimony and corroborating reports, proving Kotze's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. During sentencing, Kotze sought leniency, citing his age and ill health. Du Preez countered that his lack of remorse, the gruesome nature of the crime, and its lasting trauma on the victim, who continues to suffer nightmares, warranted no deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. She argued that age alone could not excuse such a heinous act,' Mahanjana said. Leniency Magistrate Piet Nel agreed with the state, stating that 'rape is a scourge in our society, and the absence of remorse aggravates this crime'. Nel found no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify leniency, imposing life imprisonment, reinforcing the judiciary's firm stance against gender-based violence. ALSO READ: AfriForum accuses NPA of playing to public gallery in Cwecwe rape case Rape During the trial, it emerged that Kotze rented a room at a commune where the six-year-old girl was staying with her mother. The little girl referred to him as 'oupa', though they were not biologically related. On 3 October 2019, the mother of the child suspected that something was wrong with her and decided to investigate. When the mother could not find the child where she was supposed to be playing, she went to look for her in Kotze's room. Arrest Mahanjana said that when the mother entered Kotze's room, he immediately pulled his hands away from the child, which made her suspicious. 'She then grabbed the child and went to their room, where she questioned her. The child then disclosed to her mother that Kotze had raped her by digitally penetrating her, touched her private parts, and forced her to touch him. 'The child further revealed that these acts were not isolated incidents. The mother immediately reported the matter to the police, leading to Kotze's arrest on 24 October 2019,' Kotze's room said. GBV The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Marika Jansen van Vuuren, praised officials for the arrest and successful prosecution of Kotze. 'This sentence sends a clear message: the NPA prioritises GBV cases, especially those targeting vulnerable children, and will pursue justice relentlessly, she said. 'The conviction underscores the NPA's unwavering commitment to protecting society's most vulnerable and holding perpetrators accountable, regardless of age or status.' The NPA has urged communities to remain vigilant and report GBV and child abuse promptly. 'This case highlights the critical role of caregivers, like the victim's mother, in exposing abuse and seeking justice,' the NPA said. NOW READ: WATCH: How Olorato Mongale murder suspect 'confessed' [VIDEO]
