The Western Cape High Court has sentenced two members of the Fast Guns gang, Carlo Hofmeester and Chadwin Isaacs, to life imprisonment and declared them unfit to possess firearms.
This comes after the court found them guilty of the murder of five-year-old Valentino Grootetjie and the attempted murders of Wesley Kok, Olivia Stevens, Natasha Daniels, Leticia Barnes, Crystal Joseph, Derrick Strydom, Gerswin Baars, Brandon Coetzee, and Dillon Wentzel.
Additionally, the pair were convicted of two counts of illegal possession of firearms and two counts of illegal possession of ammunition.
During the six-week trial, 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.
Initial police reports indicated that 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.
Five-year-old Valentino Grootetjie stayed with his parents at 37 Drury Court and was playing in the yard when a bullet struck his head.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Coetzee knows both accused, and on the day, he saw Hofmeester running towards him as he came from a shop. He suspected that he was up to no good, and when he reached the gate of 37 Drury Court, he warned the people inside.
“He attempted to close the gate, but the accused grabbed him. He pulled loose and ran away. He then saw Hofmeester open the gate, look around and started firing shots in the yard. Isaacs also ran towards the yard, opened the gate, and fired shots. They both ran away afterwards.”
Stevens and Barnes also identified Hofmeester as the shooter after they saw him shooting at the 37 Drury Court. They swore at him, and he fired a shot at them, and they retreated.
One of the attempted murder victims, Wesley Kok, a member of the Mongrels gang, was the target of the shooting incident.
Ballistic evidence collected on the scene showed that two firearms were used during the shooting.
Hofmeester and Isaacs were sentenced to five years direct imprisonment for contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, life imprisonment for Grootetjie’s murder, and 10 years direct imprisonment for each of the nine counts of attempted murder (90 years’ direct imprisonment).
The pair were also sentenced to 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.
In her sentenced judgment, Judge Melanie Holderness agreed with the State that the accused did not show remorse, failed to take the court into their confidence, and downplayed the seriousness of the offences as they appeared bored during the trial.
“There were no substantial and compelling circumstances which allowed the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.”
The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, commended the work of the investigating and prosecution teams for ensuring that justice is served.
