Three members of the Junky Funky Kids (JFK) gang have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Achmat Gaffoor, a gang member from a rival group, in a brutal drive-by shooting in Steenberg in 2020. The men, Shakoor Gaffoor, 25, Riedewan Cedras, 27, and Grandall Solomons, 40, were convicted in the Western Cape High Court on Monday, where they were handed life sentences for the murder. Their convictions also included three charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and unlawful ammunition.
The incident that led to their arrest occurred on May 30, 2020, in Steenberg’s Lavender Hill area, a known hotspot for gang violence. Achmat Gaffoor, along with a fellow member of the Flakka Kidds gang, was targeted in a drive-by shooting on the corners of St Blaise and St Barnard Streets. Both men sustained serious gunshot wounds in the attack, which was orchestrated by JFK gang members in a continuing territorial battle between the Flakka Kidds and Junky Funky Kids, who operate in rival communities such as Hillview, Cafda, Seawinds, and Lavender Hill.
During the trial, it was revealed that Achmat and Shakoor Gaffoor were part of opposing gangs. Achmat’s murder was not an isolated act but part of a violent, premeditated strategy. Eyewitness testimonies, combined with video footage, placed the three men at the scene and implicated them in the shooting. The evidence showed that the JFK gang members had meticulously planned the attack, with each one playing a distinct role, armed with weapons and clear in their objective: to eliminate members of the Flakka Kidds.
The investigation into the murder was spearheaded by the Serious Organised Crime Investigation’s National Priority Violent Crimes (NPVC) unit, which worked tirelessly to trace the suspects. Shakoor Gaffoor and Riedewan Cedras were arrested on October 9, 2020, during a coordinated operation involving the Hawks’ National Priority Violent Crime team and the National Intervention Unit (NIU). Grandall Solomons was apprehended a few days later, on October 12, 2020.
The conviction of the three men serves as a significant victory for law enforcement in the ongoing battle against gang violence in the Western Cape. It is a reminder of the devastating impact that gang wars continue to have on local communities, where innocent lives are often caught in the crossfire of territorial disputes.
In another case in the Western Cape, three men were convicted for the murder of Ruduwan Damons. Perwill Dickens, Jason Pretorius, and Sylvester Pretorius were sentenced in October last year, with Dickens receiving 25 years in prison and the two other men sentenced to 20 years each. The tragic incident unfolded when Perwill Dickens became involved in an altercation with Ruduwan Damons. Dickens then enlisted his brothers, Sylvester and Jason, to confront Damons at his home.
Once they arrived at the victim’s house in Parkdene, George, the brothers attacked Damons. Despite attempts by the victim’s aunt to intervene, the situation escalated when Perwill retrieved a knife from the family vehicle and fatally stabbed Damons twice. The victim managed to stumble a few metres before collapsing inside his home. The brutal nature of this murder highlighted the unchecked violence and escalating tension in communities plagued by gang conflicts.
Both cases underscore the serious and often deadly consequences of gang violence in South Africa. As gangs continue to terrorize communities, the criminal justice system’s role in holding perpetrators accountable becomes even more critical. The convictions of Shakoor Gaffoor, Riedewan Cedras, Grandall Solomons, and the Pretorius brothers serve as a reminder of the cost of gang violence and the long path to justice for victims and their families. Despite the sentences, the war on crime and gangs in these areas is far from over, as new challenges and figures continue to rise in the shadows of law enforcement’s efforts.
