The Cape Town High Court handed hefty sentences to Thando Manuel and his co-accused Nathan Erasmus on Thursday.
On 18 March 2018, the suspects went to a known drug outlet
in Protea Street, Kleinvlei, posing as customers. After a brief verbal
engagement they opened fire on the three victims, two of whom died on the scene
while one sustained a gunshot wound. The suspects fled on foot but Kleinvlei
SAPS members, with the aid of the community arrested one of the suspects. The
second suspect was arrested during further investigations. A 9mm pistol and a R5
semi-automatic rifle were recovered, and both firearms were positively linked
to the scene of the crime by forensic ballistic evidence.
‘’Investigations revealed that the killing was gang
related, and was a feud between different groupings of the 28 gang group in the
Klenvlei and adjacent areas. The accused were both found guilty on all the
charges and were convicted and declared unfit to possess a firearm,’’ said the
police’s Ndakwe Gwala.
The two accused were both facing two counts of murder, five
counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and
illegal possession of ammunition.
Thando Manuel was
sentenced to two life imprisonment for the murders, and an additional total of 65
years imprisonment for the other crimes, while Nathan Erasmus was sentenced to
two life imprisonment for the murders, and an additional 60 years imprisonment
for the other charges. The sentences will run concurrently with the life
sentences.
‘’SAPS management in the Western Cape trust that the
lengthy sentences will send a strong message that gangsterism will not be
tolerated in our communities,’’ added Gwala.
Done By: Mitchum George
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