Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal attack on party-goers at a 21st birthday in Montclair Drive, Mandalay, killing one and injuring seven others.
The Mitchells Plain Regional Court on Friday sentenced Moegamat Hartzenberg, 26, Jonathan Witbooi, 33, and Marawaan Safaar, 35, to life imprisonment for murder, five years for attempted murder, 15 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and two years for the illegal possession of ammunition.
“On October 16, 2021, the accused stopped in front of a house in Montclair Drive and started shooting at the people who were celebrating a 21st birthday party, wounding eight people of which an adult female later died in hospital,” police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said.
The victims were between 5 and 26 years old.
The case was assigned to Sergeant Bradley Schuurman of the Anti-Gang Unit who with due diligence started his investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident, Twigg said.
“He collected crucial evidence and witness statements and presented it before court and the accused were found guilty on 25 July 2024,” Twigg said.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile welcomed the hefty sentences imposed.
“He congratulated the investigator who worked tirelessly towards these convictions, saying that it is rewarding when your labour, commitment and endurance have a satisfactory result,” Twigg said.
Cape Times