Two gang members who gunned down a pregnant woman in a hail of bullets have been sentenced to life in prison, with additional prison terms of more than 100 years each in South Africa.
The Western Cape High Court sentenced Jeremia Fortuin and Ricardo Cloete, both linked to the Ferodo gang, for the m8rder of 21-year-old Shahida Nathan and the attempted m8rder of six others.
Nathan was eight months pregnant at the time.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said the pair opened fire on a shack in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein, in June 2020, believing rival gang members were inside.
Instead, Nathan and six others were inside, sitting together “enjoying potjiekos and tik lollies” when the gunfire erupted.
Nathan was k!lled, while two men, aged 29 and 37, were wounded.
“On that morning, Fortuin and Cloete saw the late Alfredo Titus and the late Ridwaan Smith, who were members of the Mobster gang, getting into the yard of 30 Klipbok Street, Scottsdene, Kraaifontein, and chased after them,” Ntabazalila said.
“Titus and Smith ran into the main house, but the accused thought they were in the backyard shack in which Nathan and six others were sitting, enjoying potjiekos and tik lollies.
“Cloete pointed out the shack to Fortuin, who was armed with an illegal firearm.”
He said Fortuin then opened fired at the shack, believing the two rival gang members were inside.
“The two accused then fled the scene, leaving behind fatally wounded Nathan and two wounded men aged 29 and 37 years old.”
Ntabazalila said both accused pleaded not guilty and denied being at the scene.
Fortuin claimed he had been intoxicated after attending a party in Klapmuts the night before, while Cloete said he had been using drugs and woke up later that morning.
However, the court rejected their versions and found the state had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hearsay evidence, including statements from two deceased witnesses, was admitted.
Fortuin was convicted on 10 charges, including murder, six counts of attempted murder, being a member of a gang, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, along with additional sentences totalling 107 years.
Cloete was convicted on similar charges, excluding the firearm and ammunition counts, and received life imprisonment plus 96 years.
The court ordered that the additional sentences run concurrently with the life sentence.
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Nicolette Bell praised the investigation and prosecution team, saying they had removed two dangerous criminals from the community.