TWO members of the notorious Gupta gang were slapped with a hefty life sentence in the Western Cape High Court on Friday, 19 April.
Gcinithemba Bheja and Fundile Maseti belonged to the gang linked to the deadly mass shooting in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, that left six people dead.
The shooting happened on 7 March 2020 during a birthday braai hosted by one of the deceased.
The celebration turned into a scene of horror when gang members sprayed patrons with bullets.
The court heard it was a turf war between the Gupta gang members from Y section and those from Q section where the deceased resided.
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National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila highlighted the tragic outcome of the attack, including the death of a six-year-old girl who was struck by a stray bullet.
During court proceedings, evidence from a witness detailed the aftermath of the attack, which claimed the lives of a lot of patrons, including innocent bystanders.
Handing down sentence, Judge Daniel Thulare said the accused showed no remorse and had no pain of conscience for the plight of the deceased, those injured or fear which gripped residents of Khayelitsha and beyond.
Sending a stern message against brazen killings and gang wars, the judge said the two men were sentenced to life imprisonment for each murder, five years direct imprisonment for each attempted murder, 15 years direct imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm and 15 years direct imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition.
“The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently and declared them unfit to possess a firearm,” she said.
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell applauded the investigating officer and state Advocate Pulane Thaiteng for her guidance during the investigation and for putting up a strong case that led to the conviction.
She further commended the witness for his brave decision to testify despite threats to his life and the resolve to ensure those who commit heinous crimes are sent to jail.
