Continued efforts to deal with the scourge of gang violence on the Cape Flats resulted in the arrest of four suspects on serious and violent crimes committed in Ravensmead in 2019.
The accused were sentenced in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday 26 January 2023.
Members of the “Ama don’t care” gang arrived at a residence in Geranium Street in Ravensmead on 25 March 2019, with the intention to extort the resident at the mentioned address.
They returned the next day 26 March 2019 for more protection money, and the resident resisted their actions. Later in the day unknown males returned to the house, firing gunshots at the victim, fatally wounding Christopher Cornelius and his four year old grandchild Likeshia Joubert.
On 7 April 2019, the only witness Glenda Ruiters was gunned down in Erica Road by unknown men while her daughter escape injuries when the gang members shot at her in a bid to kill her with her mother.
The investigating officer attached to the Anti-Gang unit was committed to bring the perpetrators of justice to book. He pursued every bit of information and subsequently arrested and detained four suspects on charges of murder and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
He successfully opposed bail for the suspects and they were remanded in custody for the full duration of the trial. The investigating officer faced a massive onslaught from the defence lawyers in a bid to derail him. The detective however kept his focus on the Judge, calmly stating the facts as he was on the crime scenes and was in the best position to paint a credible picture. The investigating officer was lauded as a credible investigator.
On 14 October 2022 the accused were convicted and sentencing was remanded to Thursday 26 January 2023. The four suspects were sentenced as follows:
Accused (1) Dawnay Davids: Twenty years for the murders of Christopher Cornelius and Likeshia Joubert. Five years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm Five year for the possession of unlicensed ammunition
Accused (2) Mahlubandile Jacobs: Life imprisonment for the murder of Christopher Cornelius Life imprisonment for the murder of Likeshia Joubert Life imprisonment for the murder of Glenda Ruiters Ten years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm Twelve years for the possession of unlicensed ammunition
Accused (3) Moegamat Swarts: Twenty Five years imprisonment for the murder of Glenda Ruiters Ten year for the attempted murder on Nikita Ruiters Eight years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition
Accused (4) Vincent Davids: Life imprisonment for the murder of Glenda Ruiters 12 years for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile, lauded the investigating officer for the sterling investigation with the aim of proving the State’s case beyond reasonable doubt. He reiterated that criminals can run but they cannot hide in this province. Committed investigating officers will ensure that they answer in a court of law.
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