Two Heideveld skollies have been found guilty in the Khayelitsha Priority Crimes Court for the murder of a rival gang member in 2013.
After a lengthy trial, Robert “Boetie” Thomas, 36, and Moegamat Shamiel Hendricks, 28, of the Junky Funky Kidz gang were found guilty of the murder of Mervin Hendricks, 40.
Manenberg Police Station commander, Brigadier Enolium Joseph, says at the time the Funkys from Heideveld and the Americans from Manenberg were embroiled in a war that left the community living in fear.
“On Sunday, 8 December 2013 at about 4am, Mervin got out of a taxi and walked a female friend home,” he explains.
“When he returned he was ambushed by five gangsters but only two, Thomas and Hendricks, were armed and they opened fire on him.”
Mervin was hit twice in the chest and he died on the scene.
Shortly after the shooting, Constable Rashied van Rooi arrested the two skollies who have since been kept in Pollsmoor Prison where they joined the 26 gang.
“They were found guilty of murder and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition on Monday. They will return to court on 29 January for their sentencing.
“These men were involved in several gruesome murders within the Manenberg precinct, that are still left unsolved at this stage. Their reign of terror has come to an end.
“It makes us proud to see our young police officers rising above their own circumstances and setting the bar extremely high and rooting out selflessness, poor service delivery and corruption,” Joseph says.
monique.duval@inl.co.za