Cape Town -
Sixteen members of the Fancy Boys gang, which operates in Atlantis, have been convicted in the Western Cape High Court of murder, gang association and drug dealing.
Judge Elize Steyn convicted the men of most of the 50 crimes committed between 2004 and 2010, including the murders of Shelton Gouws, Gabriel Davids, Andrew Lloyd, Leon Pietersen and David Davids – all of Robinvale.
Other charges included assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, dealing in drugs and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The court found that the first accused, Mallick Petersen, was the leader of the Fancy Boys in Atlantis and that he had put hits out on rival gang members in 2009.
At the time there had been a bloody turf war between the Fancy Boys, Americans, G-Force and Rasta gangs.
On Tuesday, Judge Steyn said on the 10th day of delivering her judgment, that most of the State witnesses had created a good impression on the court and that their version of events were probable.
The judge described one accused-turned-State-witness, Reginald Valentine, who had knowledge of the inner workings of the gang, as “phenomenal”.
Judge Steyn said his evidence was believable and there was nothing to substantiate claims that he falsely implicated the men in a vendetta against them.
He also did not falter during cross-examination, despite being in the witness box for 12 days during the two-year trial.
Valentine told the court that Petersen had given him instructions to kill three people. One was killed and the other two survived.
While Petersen was identified as the leader, Rushdien Koeberg was the “operations manager” in charge of drug money when Petersen was not available.
Judge Steyn said Petersen’s evidence was not impressive.
She said that his answers were vague and she rejected his version that he was a builder and knew his co-accused because they worked for him or were relatives of his employees.
The other gang members are Heinrich van Wyk, Moeneeb Pietersen, Juliano Williams, Jerome Pieterse, Deraco Pieterse, Moegamat Nazeem Davids, Moegamat Waleed Davids, Aloysius Gaslin, Roedolf Cloete, Elrico Thompson, Wayne Valentine, Isaac Lotz, Brandon Rhodes and Leandro Johannes.
The men will remain in custody until their next appearance on February 3.
Cape Argus