Two Eersterust gangsters to spend life behind bars after sentencing
State prosecutor Advocate Sivhidzho reminded the court that Eersterust is a gang-infested area and if the court deviates from the prescribed minimum sentence, the community might resort to violence.
Two notorious gang members, Sylvester Martin (34) and Fabian Randalls (33), have been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Pretoria high court.
The duo was sentenced to life imprisonment for premeditated murder, eight years’ direct imprisonment for attempted murder, five years’ direct imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm, and five years’ direct imprisonment each for unlawful possession of ammunition.
According to NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, both were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
“On August 13, 2021, while the three complainants were standing outside one of the complainants’ houses, Martin and Randall got out of a motor vehicle that had stopped a few metres away from the complainants and began to fire multiple shots at them.
“Two of the complainants managed to run inside the house, while the deceased who was left behind was shot several times,” explained Mahanjana.
During the closing argument, the duo pleaded through their attorney with the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence and asked it to hand them 10 years’ direct imprisonment for premeditated murder and five years each for unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
However, state prosecutor, Advocate Lawrence Sivhidzho reminded the court that Martin and Randalls had committed a serious crime, which left the children of the deceased with no father.
“Furthermore, Eersterust is a gang-infested area and if the court deviates from the prescribed minimum sentence, the community might resort to violence.
“Lastly, both their actions were brutal and deliberate, therefore the prescribed minimum sentence should be imposed,” Sivhidzho argued.
When handing down the sentence, the court said both suspects were not first-time offenders, adding that Martin had committed these offences while on parole after he had been sentenced for murder in 2013, and for assault in 2006.
“The court agrees with the state that such crimes are prevalent in the Eersterust area and that deviating from the prescribed minimum sentence will undermine the plight of crime the area is facing, and that the community is looking to the court to protect them from such crimes.
“As such, the court does not find any compelling and substantial circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence,” it ruled.
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