Two extortionists were given seven life sentences by the Western Cape High Court today for each murder they committed during a turf war in Khayelitsha.
Gcinithemba ‘MDriver’ Beja and Fundile ‘Phiri’ Maseti shot at a house party with guests celebrating the birthday of a rival gang leader on 7 March 2020, as reported by News24.
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Beja and Maseti were in an extortion gang called The Guptas, a breakaway from the Boko Haram gang, with both gangs being in conflict with each other over who controlled which blocks.
The extortioners pushed their guns through the windows and fired at attendees of the leader’s birthday party. During the shootout, a 6-year-old was shot.
Other attendees hid behind fridges and under beds for protection against the attack.
After the incident, police officers initially struggled to get a lead, even though the attack occurred in a densely populated street, but a witness did eventually come forward to aid law enforcement.
When news got out that the police had an informant, the witness panicked and requested whether he could receive protection.
After being transported to a safe house, the witness received a phone call from his mother, who was in the Eastern Cape at that time, that the men were at her house, looking for him.
Among their charges, the extortionists were sentenced to five years in prison 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.
Their sentences will run concurrently.
Beja and Maseti were not in court for sentencing, as they did not want to be in court while the media was present.
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