Latest news with #PreventionofOrganisedCrimeAct121
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- The Citizen
26 convicted for R29m infrastructure crimes in Free State
The police in the Xhariep District in the southern Free State have celebrated a victory against organised crime and infrastructure vandalism, as 26 suspects were convicted for their involvement in the theft of Transnet copper cables and tampering with essential infrastructure. According to Bloemfontein Courant, Free State police spokesperson Mahlomola Kareli said the incidents occurred over a three-month period between two towns, resulting in millions lost by Transnet. 'The incidents, which occurred between Springfontein and Bethulie from July 18, 2021 to October 6, 2021, resulted in a staggering loss of over R29m,' he said. Kareli mentioned that the accused were found guilty on multiple charges, including damage to essential infrastructure and theft. The charges are: Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, Section 9(2)(a) – Informal gang-related activities: All 26 accused were found guilty of involvement in informal gang-related activities, highlighting the organised nature of the crimes. Tampering/damage to essential infrastructure – The total damage inflicted on essential infrastructure amounted to R22 261 886. Theft of Transnet copper cables – The value of stolen copper cables totalled R6 967 413. Sentencing proceedings for the suspects are set to begin on September 29 and run until October 3. They will remain in custody. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
IOL News
18-06-2025
- IOL News
Justice at last for slain Valentino Grootetjie, 5
Valentino Grootetjie, 5, was shot and killed in Drury Court, Lavender Hill, in 2019. His two killers - Carlo Hofmeester and Chadwin Isaacs - who shot him in the head during a drug turf war, were sentenced to a life sentence each at the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday. Image: Supplied / Archive THE Western Cape High Court has sentenced gang members Carlo Hofmeester and Chadwin Isaacs to life imprisonment for the murder of five-year-old Valentino Grootetjie when they shot him in Drury Court, Lavender Hill. The two were also declared unfit to possess firearms. They were convicted of the charges against them on June 5. Valentino had been shot and killed in drug turf wars where rival shootings occurred between the Fast Guns and the Mongrels Gang. Hoffmeester and Isaacs were also convicted of the attempted murders of Wesley Kok, Olivia Stevens, Natasha Daniels, Leticia Barnes, Crystal Joseph, Derrick Strydom, Gerswin Baars, Brandon Coetzee, Dillon Wentzel, and faced two counts of illegal possession of firearms and two counts of illegal possession of ammunition. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the two were convicted for being in contravention of Section 9(2)(a) read with sections 1, 10, and 11 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca). 'They were sentenced to five years direct imprisonment for contravention of Section 9(2)(a) read with sections 1, 10, and 11 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, life imprisonment for Grootetjie's murder, 10 years direct imprisonment for each of the nine counts of attempted murder (90 years direct imprisonment), five years direct imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and three years direct imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently. 'State advocate Leon Snyman proved that 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. On 21 December 2019, members of the Mongrels Gang gathered at 37 Drury Court, Lavender Hill, for a 'pela post' where people congregate to smoke and socialise. 'It is in the territory of the Mongrel Gang. Stevens and Barnes were at 36 Drury Court, Lavender Hill. The deceased stayed with his parents at 37 Drury Court, Lavender Hill, and was playing in the yard when a bullet struck his head,' said Ntabazalila. 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 ✕ In the State's case, an eyewitness pinned Hofmeester as the shooter after they saw him shooting at 37 Drury Court. 'Kok, a member of the Mongrels Gang, was the target of the shooting incident and was one of the victims of attempted murder. Ballistic evidence collected on the scene showed that two firearms were used during the shooting. During the six-week trial, Advocate Snyman called eight witnesses, including the deceased's parents, Patrick Kotze and Romana Grootetjie, Stevens, Barnes, and four police officers – a previous investigator, the current investigator, a gang expert, and a ballistics expert. A trial-within-a-trial was held where the accused unsuccessfully challenged the admissibility of their warning statements,' said Ntabazalila. In her judgment, Judge Melanie Holderness agreed with the State that the accused did not show remorse, failed to engage with the court, and downplayed the seriousness of the offences, appearing bored during the trial. Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, lamented the loss of an innocent life of a child due to the scourge of gangsterism that is holding many communities in the Cape Flats at ransom, with many children being caught in the crossfire of gang shootings. 'It can never be emphasised how important human life is, and therefore we will be vigorous in our pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to murderers,' the NPA said. Police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana said the Western Cape police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile commended the work of the investigating and prosecution teams for ensuring that justice was served. Cape Times
IOL News
17-06-2025
- IOL News
Life sentences for Fast Guns gang members in tragic murder of five-year-old Valentino Grootetjie
Valentino Grootetjie, 5, was shot and killed in Drury Court, Lavender Hill, in 2019. His two killers - Carlo Hofmeester and Chadwin Isaacs - who shot him in the head during a drug turf war, were sentenced to a life sentence each at the Western Cape High Court today. Image: Supplied / Archive Fast Guns gang duo and child killers, Carlo Hofmeester and Chadwin Isaacs, were each slapped with life imprisonment at the Western Cape High Court earlier today. The two were also declared unfit to possess firearms. The sentencing follows their conviction at the High Court on June 5, where they were convicted for the murder of five-year-old Valentino Grootetjie when they shot him in Drury Court, Lavender Hill. Valentino had been shot and killed in drug turf wars where rival shootings occurred between the Fast Guns and the Mongrels Gang. Hoffmeester and Isaacs were also convicted of the attempted murders of Wesley Kok, Olivia Stevens, Natasha Daniels, Leticia Barnes, Crystal Joseph, Derrick Strydom, Gerswin Baars, Brandon Coetzee, Dillon Wentzel, and faced two counts of illegal possession of firearms and two counts of illegal possession of ammunition. 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 ✕ National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the two were convicted after being in contravention of Section 9(2)(a) read with sections 1, 10, and 11 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca). 'They were sentenced to five years direct imprisonment for contravention of Section 9(2)(a) read with sections 1, 10, and 11 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, life imprisonment for Grootetjie's murder, 10 years direct imprisonment for each of the nine counts of attempted murder (90 years direct imprisonment), five years direct imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms and three years direct imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently. 'State advocate Leon Snyman proved that 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. On 21 December 2019, members of the Mongrels Gang gathered at 37 Drury Court, Lavender Hill, a 'pela post' where people congregate to smoke and socialise. 'It is in the territory of the Mongrel Gang. Stevens and Barnes were at 36 Drury Court, Lavender Hill. The deceased stayed with his parents at 37 Drury Court, Lavender Hill, and was playing in the yard when a bullet struck his head,' said Ntabazalila. In the State's case, an eyewitness pinned Hofmeester as the shooter after they saw him shooting at 37 Drury Court. 'Kok, a member of the Mongrels Gang, was the target of the shooting incident and was one of the victims of attempted murder. Ballistic evidence collected on the scene showed that two firearms were used during the shooting. During the six-week trial, Advocate Snyman called eight witnesses, including the deceased's parents, Patrick Kotze and Romana Grootetjie, Stevens, Barnes, and four police officers – a previous investigator, the current investigator, a gang expert, and a ballistics expert. A trial-within-a-trial was held where the accused unsuccessfully challenged the admissibility of their warning statements,' said Ntabazalila. In her judgment, Judge Melanie Holderness agreed with the State that the accused did not show remorse, failed to engage with the court, and downplayed the seriousness of the offences, appearing bored during the trial. Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, lamented the loss of an innocent life of a child due to the scourge of gangsterism that is holding many communities in the Cape Flats at ransom, with many children being caught in the crossfire of gang shootings.
