Two convicted gang members will spend the rest of their lives behind bars after the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town handed down heavy sentences for the murder of a pregnant woman and the attempted murder of six others in Kraaifontein.
Jeremia Fortuin and Ricardo Cloete, linked to the notorious Ferodo gang, were sentenced to life imprisonment, with additional prison terms of 107 years and 96 years respectively ordered to run concurrently.
The court found the pair guilty of the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Shahieda Nathan, who was eight months pregnant at the time, as well as six counts of attempted murder. The attack, which took place on 21 June 2020 in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein, was linked to ongoing turf wars between rival gangs over the illegal drug trade.
Evidence presented in court showed that the accused had been pursuing alleged members of the rival Mobster gang when they mistakenly targeted a backyard shack at a property in Klipbok Street. Inside, Nathan and six others were socialising when Fortuin opened fire, believing rival gang members were hiding there.
Nathan was killed in the shooting, while two men were wounded. The intended targets were not inside the shack.
State advocate Steven Rubin successfully argued that the attack was premeditated and formed part of ongoing gang hostilities in the area, where multiple gangs operate and violence is rife. The court rejected the accused’s claims that they were not present at the scene, describing their versions as false.
Fortuin was convicted on 10 charges, including murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Cloete was convicted on similar charges, excluding firearm and ammunition possession. Both had pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial.
The court’s decision to impose life sentences reflects the seriousness of the crime, particularly given that the victim was heavily pregnant and entirely uninvolved in gang activities.
The National Prosecuting Authority in the Western Cape welcomed the judgment, with Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Nicolette Bell praising the work of investigators and prosecutors in securing the conviction.
Bell also commended witnesses who came forward, including a relative of one of the accused, despite the risks associated with testifying in gang-related cases. She said such courage was critical in efforts to combat violent crime and restore safety in affected communities.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) also welcomed the outcome, describing it as a necessary demonstration that violent criminality would be met with the full force of the law.
However, the party warned that the case highlights deeper systemic failures, including weak policing, the proliferation of illegal firearms, and socio-economic conditions that allow gangs to thrive, particularly in areas like the Cape Flats.
The killing of Nathan, the ATM said, underscores the vulnerability of women and children in communities plagued by gang violence and called for urgent government intervention to address the root causes of crime.
While the sentence brings a measure of justice, concerns remain about the broader climate of violence, with calls mounting for stronger prevention strategies to ensure similar tragedies are avoided in future.
