Life sentences for gang members in murder of Valentino Grootetjie, 5

FAST Guns gang duo and child killers Carlo Hofmeester and Chadwin Isaacs were each slapped with life imprisonment at the Western Cape High Court earlier today.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN [e-mail]

The two were also declared unfit to possess firearms. The sentencing follows their conviction at the High Court on June 5, where they were convicted for the murder of 5-year-old Valentino Grootetjie when they shot him in Drury Court, Lavender Hill.

Valentino had been shot and killed in drug turf wars where rival shootings occurred between the Fast Guns and the Mongrels Gang.

Hoffmeester and Isaacs were also convicted of the attempted murders of Wesley Kok, Olivia Stevens, Natasha Daniels, Leticia Barnes, Crystal Joseph, Derrick Strydom, Gerswin Baars, Brandon Coetzee, Dillon Wentzel and faced two counts of illegal possession of firearms and two counts of illegal possession of ammunition.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the two were convicted after being in contravention of Section 9(2) (a) read with sections 1, 10, and 11 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).