Three members of the Junky Funky Kidz (JFK) gang were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Western Cape High Court after being convicted for the murder of Achmat Gaffoor, a member of the rival Flakka gang, along with several firearm-related offenses. Shakoor Gaffoor (25), Riedewan Cedras (27), and Grandall Solomons (40) were found guilty in June 2024 for the murder of Gaffoor, who was also the nephew of Shakoor Gaffoor. In addition to the murder charge, they were convicted for three counts of illegal possession of firearms and a count of illegal possession of ammunition.
The men initially faced a total of nine charges, including those under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) and attempted murder. However, the court proceedings focused on the tragic events that occurred on October 8, 2020, when Achmat Gaffoor and a friend were approached by the trio in Steenberg, a district on the Cape Flats.
According to the testimony presented in court, Achmat and his friend were standing on the corner of St Blaise and St Barnard Streets, asking passersby for money to buy dagga. The pair, both members of the Flakka gang, noticed a grey hatchback pass by with a driver and three passengers. About 30 minutes later, the vehicle returned with a passenger seated in the front seat. The friend, feeling uneasy, noted the car’s return and watched as the armed passengers—later identified as Gaffoor, Cedras, and Solomons—exited the vehicle. One of them reportedly shouted “hier is julle pappas” (“here are your fathers”), prompting the two men to flee in different directions. The trio then began shooting at them.
The friend managed to escape, but when he returned, he found that Achmat had been fatally shot. During the trial, the friend confirmed that the trio were members of the JFK gang, which operates in areas like Hillview, Cafda, Seawinds, and Lavender Hill in Steenberg. He also explained that the JFK and Flakka gangs were engaged in a bitter territorial conflict, where any member who entered rival territory risked being shot on sight.
Despite their involvement in the shooting, the trio initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. Each of the defendants presented an alibi: Gaffoor claimed he was informed of the shooting by a friend and had been at his parents’ home in Melkbosstrand over the weekend. Cedras stated he was in Grabouw with his mother at the time, and Solomons claimed to have been with his girlfriend and parents during the incident.
The investigation into the case was handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation’s National Priority Violent Crimes (NPVC) team. After extensive tracing operations, Gaffoor and Cedras were arrested on October 9, 2020, while Solomons was taken into custody three days later. Eyewitness testimony, police evidence, and CCTV footage played a critical role in linking the trio to the crime. The footage and testimonies showed that the JFK gang members acted with premeditation, with each man playing a specific role in the attack. Each defendant was armed, and the shooting was clearly aimed at the Flakka gang.
State advocate Luzaan Williams presented compelling evidence, including testimonies from Achmat’s family members, police officers, and medical personnel, as well as video footage from the scene. The court’s findings confirmed the premeditated nature of the attack and the involvement of all three gang members in the shooting.
Following the conviction, Gaffoor, who had been out on bail, was taken into custody. The trio was each sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder charge, with additional sentences of five years each for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning the life sentence would take precedence.
The Hawks’ Western Cape spokesperson, Major General Mathipa Makgato, welcomed the court’s decision, commending the hard work of the investigating team and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). He further emphasized that the Hawks would continue their efforts to combat gang violence, assuring the public that every effort would be made to restore peace and order in South Africa’s communities.
