GANG MEMBERS SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS FOR CHILD MURDER
05 MAY 2025
GANG MEMBERS SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS FOR CHILD MURDER
Cape Town, South Africa, The High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division has sentenced murderers, Eben Basson and Chivargo Fredericks, to an effective 35-year direct imprisonment after deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment for the murder of Emaan Solomons. On 11 February 2025, the court convicted Basson and Fredericks for Solomons’ murder, four counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. Senior State Adv John Ryneveld asked the court to sentence the two Junky Funky Kids (JFKs) gang members to life imprisonment for the murder of the 7-year-old and long-term direct imprisonment for the four attempted murders of Anees Davis, Marco Simon, Michael Daniels and Oscar Daniels and illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
Judge Gayaat Da Silva Salie sentenced the accused to 22 years' direct imprisonment for the murder after considering that they were first offenders and had been in custody for five years awaiting trial. They were sentenced to 5 years' direct imprisonment for each attempted murder, with the court ordering the sentences to run concurrently. They were sentenced to an effective 8-year direct imprisonment for the illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
During the trial, Adv Ryneveld led evidence that on the afternoon of 25 February 2020, the deceased and her friends engaged in their ritual after a school ball game in a cul-de-sac in Libra Road, Oceanview, near her home. A few adults were sitting in a vehicle enjoying the afternoon when gunshots rang out. The deceased, her friends and the adults ran in different directions seeking safety as bullets whizzed past them. She made it into her home’s yard but collapsed in the front garden, a few metres from the front door. Her mother found her lying wounded with a bullet on her back, which went out through her chest. She also had a wound in her left hand. She was rushed to a local hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The accused were positively identified as the ones who were chasing and shooting at a rival gang member, Anees Davis, of the Taylor Gang (TG) on that afternoon. The JFKS and the TGS operate in the Ocean View area and constantly engage in turf wars over the drug trade. Fredericks was arrested that same evening, while Basson was arrested the next morning. Davis was also arrested but later released as he could not be linked to the case. The investigating officer, Sergeant Mentjies of the Anti-Gang Unit, recovered the firearm that was used to commit crimes at 65 Alpha Way, Ocean View, following a tip-off about the firearm being at the known JFK house used to store firearms. He was later rearrested. Basson was later re-arrested.
In her sentencing judgment, Judge Da Silva Salie said gang shootings for drug and turf control amount to domestic terrorism in its most destructive form, shattering families, and robbing communities of peaceful life in residential areas and hope for a better life.
Western Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Nicolette Bell welcomed the sentence, saying it can never be overemphasised how important human life is, and the NPA will continue to be vigorous in its pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers. Such matters affect the safety and well-being of our communities, and we will continue to ensure justice for victims of crime.
Issued by:
Eric Ntabazalila
National Prosecuting Authority
Regional Communications Manager – Western Cape
Tel: (021) 487 7308
Mobile: 073 062 1222