Cape Town’s drug kingpin, Fadwaan Murphy, threatened a journalist during sentencing proceedings in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
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Murphy was sitting in the dock surrounded by police officers armed with R5 assault rifles (to protect the prosecutors, the investigating officer and the judge), as well as a full gallery of supporters.
The media, located on a bench overlooking the proceedings, included TimesLIVE investigative journalist Aron Hyman. Murphy reportedly stared at Hyman until he caught his attention, then pulled his thumb across his throat and stated, ‘You’re dead’, while pointing at Hyman.
According to TimesLIVE, Murphy is allegedly linked to the 26s gang. He was convicted of 197 counts related to charges of running a criminal enterprise involving Tik in the Cape Flats.
On 12 July, the day of his conviction, TimesLIVE published an article describing the event as a landmark ruling as it was the first time that a drug-dealing conviction was secured under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. It was also the first night that Murphy spent in Pollsmoor Prison. Although he has been out on a warning since his arrest in 2015, the court decided to incarcerate him after his conviction.
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The publication further states that Murphy has previously displayed his displeasure with Hyman’s coverage of his case, including an article about the murder of advocate Vernon Jantjies, who was Murphy’s legal representative. Jantjies was fatally shot at a petrol station in Mitchells Plain in 2019.
Murphy denied having any involvement in Jantjies’ death, stating that he was a father figure to him. He also did not take any legal steps against TimesLIVE, nor did he approach the press ombudsman.
TimesLIVE editor Makhudu Sefara says the death threat against Hyman is a threat against media freedom. ‘We do not take threats from drug dealers and criminals lightly. The Cape Ganglands is notorious for taking hits out on anyone daring to challenge them.’
‘Our reportage on Murphy and his criminal network has exposed a group of thugs hell-bent on destroying communities. This is how we, the media, help to make the world a safer place. Now we are forced to take precautions to keep our own reporter safe from this criminal.’
Since the incident, Hyman has opened a case of intimidation with the police.
‘We call on the police to take this matter seriously, investigate accordingly and bring a new charge of intimidation against him,’ adds Sefara. ‘Threatening a journalist should not go unpunished.’
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Picture: Fadwaan Murphy / Facebook
