Cape Town - A DA councillor has begged a court for a lighter sentence for one of George “Geweld” Thomas’s hitmen.
The ANC has called for heads to roll after Councillor Willie Jaftha wrote a letter to Judge Chantal Fortuin asking for mercy for convicted murderer Reyaaz Dennis.
“It just proves that there is a link between the DA and organised crime on the Cape Flats,” ANC chairperson in the Western Cape Marius Fransman said.
Jaftha handed the letter, which was drafted on a City of Cape Town letterhead, to Fortuin during Wednesday’s sentencing.
Dennis, from Belhar, stood trial alongside Thomas and 15 others.
Gang boss Thomas was sentenced to seven life sentences for seven murders plus 175 years for his other charges.
Dennis was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of Cecil Barnes, the father of a State witness, plus 42 years on other charges.
In the letter Jaftha, who is the councillor of Ward 12 in Belhar, said that the convicted gangster attended school with his children and that he was a “respectful citizen in the ward”.
“I have never received any complaints from the community about him. I therefore support any petition from the community,” the letter read.
Judge Fortuin said the court received several letters from family and members of the community, including a local band, asking for mercy because the accused regularly donated money to this and other community organisations.
But she slammed Jaftha for his letter.
“This court finds it absolutely shocking that an elected councillor, who is supposed to carry out the good norms and values of our communities, and make sure that our streets are free of crime, that such an elected person is putting in a good word for someone who has been convicted for serious crimes, including murder,” she said.
“This court finds it necessary to remind this councillor of his duty.”
The City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, was outraged when he heard about the letter.
“All I can do is shake my head in disbelief,” Smith said.
“I can’t believe a councillor would do something like this. The Speaker [Dirk Smit] is dealing with this matter,” he added.
On Thursday night Smit said although he hasn’t yet seen the letter, he was also “disappointed”.
“There will be an investigation into this. The City of Cape Town distances itself from this. This is not the view of the city,” he said.
Fransman said Mayor Patricia de Lille must be held accountable for Jaftha’s actions.
“Patricia de Lille must come clean. Jaftha did this under her watch and as leader of said party in the province she must be accountable for the actions of her people. Or she can do nothing and prove she agrees with his action,” Fransman said.
Jaftha did not answer any of the Daily Voice’s phone calls on Thursday.
Daily Voice