A teenager found guilty of attempted murder as well as the possession of an unlicenced firearm and ammunition has been sentenced to at least four years at Bonnytoun Child and Youth Care Centre.
The Mitchell’s Plain Regional Court sentenced him on Friday August 26. At the time of committing the offence, he was 17 years old.
The sentence was for a crime committed on July 7 last year, at about 8.21pm, when an 11-year-old girl was shot in Strandloper Street, Rocklands.
Mitchell’s Plain police received information about the teenager being on the scene. They caught and arrested him. He had a firearm and ammunition in his possession.
The teenager was found guilty on six counts, including attempted murder, pointing of a firearm and for being in possession of unlicensed firearm, in terms of Section 76(1) read with Section 76(2) of the Child Justice Act, Act 75 of 2008.
He was sentenced to compulsory residence for a period of three years or until he reaches the age of 21 years.
● The Hyde Park street committee held a door-to-door pamphleteering campaign in Tafelsig on Sunday September 25.
The campaign focused on domestic violence and drug abuse. The sector commander Captain Raymond Solomon and the neighbourhood watch volunteers took part in the campaign. According to police, one of the reasons for the campaigning was due to the recent spate of incidents involving windows being smashed.
People were encouraged to join the street committees and neighbourhood watch structure for the area.
● Contact numbers:
Hyde Park Sector Commander, Captain Raymond Solomon: 082 522 2644.
For enquiries about case numbers or to report a crime, call 021 370 1706.
Community Service Centre commander: 082 411 2379.
● Mitchell’s Plain police held a special cordon and search operation in Rocklands and Tafelsig on Friday September 22, from 4am to noon.
The operation included blue light patrols, house searches, actions against suspected drug dealers and vehicle check-points.
A school search was held at a local high school and pupils were addressed about the Safer Schools Act.
During a stop-and-search in Tafelsig, a white Toyota Venture CA 49226, which was reported stolen in Philippi was found. Two arrests were made – a 22 year old and a 25 year old man for possession of stolen vehicle.
● With the school holidays around the corner, a mother wants to warn people about a gang who targets homes where only children are present, after her own son was robbed and kidnapped.
The thieves pretend to know the children’s parents, and coaxed them into handing over valuables.
Traumatised mom Jolene Hudson, 38, says her 14 and 10-year-old sons were tricked into giving the thieves their PlayStation 3, 13 games and two controllers, after the gang came to her house in New Woodlands, last Sunday.
The three men and one woman, who were driving a green Toyota Corolla, pretended they were her friends.
Ms Hudson had gone to Paarl to visit a sick relative and left her sons in the care of their uncle.
The uncle had walked a friend home nearby when the group struck.
The 14-year-old says one of the men said he knew their mom and even called them by their names.
He said they drove to a mechanic in Highlands Drive in Colorado Park and he was told to get out.
“He gave me the piece of paper and said I must give it to the mechanic who would help me,” he says.
Meanwhile, the 10-year-old, who was at home, says he called his mom when the gang drove of with his brother.
Ms Hudson says they turned around and rushed home, calling the cops on the way.
