Cape Town — The Western Cape High Court sentenced two leading members of Khayelitsha’s Gupta Gang to life imprisonment for the seven murder they committed in 2020.
According to the judgement, judge Daniel Daniel Thulare handed down the sentence to Gcinithemba “MDriver” Beja and Fundile “Phiri” Maseti for their roles in the 7 March 2020 shooting in Khayelitsha. One of the accused, “Ntera” was holding a birthday party celebration when MDriver and Phiri raided the house and began shooting at the guests.
Ntera was shot in the melee, while his 6-year-old daughter was also shot at and kicked by one of the shooters who entered the house. Many of those who died were innocent civilians, not involved with gangsterism.
The two accused were handed life imprisonments for each murder, while also sentenced to five years each for three attempted murders, 15 years each for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, and another 15 years each for unlawful possession of ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently.
“Both accused had no remorse. They had no pain of conscience for the plight of the deceased, the injured or the fear which gripped the community of Khayelitsha and beyond. They had no appreciation of the extent of their error. They demonstrated no action which manifested feelings of sorrow and regret for having done wrong. The viciousness of the deeds of the accused resulted in heinous offences. Thulare said.
The Western Cape High Court sentenced two leading members of the Gupta gang from Khayelitsha to life imprisonment for each of the seven murders they committed in 2020. Several others were wounded in the attack, including a six-year-old girl.https://t.co/zOzeAtLVrR
— Veve (@LudidiVelani) April 18, 2024
According to News24, the court read the names of the deceased and injured when handing down judgment, but their names were redacted from the printed version for their safety and that of their families.
The men were not in court because they did not want to risk being filmed by the media and their lawyer immediately indicated they would apply for leave to appeal. A date for this will be decided.
“There is no doubt that society expects of the criminal justice system, the last word of which comes from the courts, to demonstrate satisfaction of the desire for protection from gratuitous criminality executed with boldness and without shame and with confidence and an untouchable illusion. It is the courts that should take criminals back to reality by imposition of sentences that are proportionate to the criminals, the crime and the interests of society blended with a measure of mercy.” Thulare added.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
