THE State believes that Durban arms dealer Anderson Padayachee must be convicted for the multiple murder and attempted murder charges he faces because he sold guns to Cape Flats gangs, which has resulted in the death and injury of various people.
Padayachee denied the allegations and responded that he was not the owner of the firearms in question.
He maintained that the guns were supplied to another arms dealer, who was now dead.
The matter returned before Judge Daniel Thulare at the Western Cape High Court this week, which was attended by the Daily News's sister newspaper, the Daily Voice.
Eight murder and five attempted murder counts were included in the total of 60 charges that the State raised against Padayachee, all linked to the firearms he allegedly supplied, which were apparently used in gang wars in areas like Bonteheuwel, Kalksteenfontein and Lotus River and others.
It emerged in court documents that Padayachee provided firepower to the Terrible Josters gang between August 2017 and May 2019.
In justifying the charges against Padayachee, the State's reasoning was that while he was not identified as the shooter in the matters before court, the fact that he supplied the guns illegally, the charges against him were justified.
Proceedings resumed on Monday with the State leading two witnesses who described the events surrounding the murders that occurred in July 2018.
Advocate Carlo Viljoen, representing Padayachee, said his client’s version was that the guns singled out in the trial were not owned by him at the time.
Viljoen said that Padayachee obtained a firearms trading permit in August 2017 and in July 2018, when the first shooting was recorded, Padayachee had sold the guns to Michael Erasmus of the Southern Sky dealership.
Erasmus apparently failed to pay Padayachee for the weapons and he subsequently issued a letter of demand to Erasmus and his business partner Andy Jones.
Viljoen said: "He was supposed to pay, but never paid the outstanding amount. After several attempts he was sent a lawyer's letter but Erasmus committed suicide and Jones disappeared."
A case number read into the record showed that Padayachee only reported the criminal case in 2019.
One of the witnesses to take the stand this week was a mother from Lotus River, who recounted her teenage son’s final moments after he was shot.
The State holds the view the gun used in the shooting of the youngster was one that Padayachee sold illegally.
Chad Julius’ mother, Lesley-Kim Weavers, 44, told the court on the night her son was killed, she was asleep as gun shots rang out in a street nearby.
The 19-year-old was found lying face down after being shot in the head.
Weavers said: "My mother woke me up and her boyfriend told me Chad was lying on the road. I ran to him and saw blood coming out of his head. He was lying on his stomach and he was still alive."
Weavers explained that she couldn't recall the details of the crime scene as her focus was her son. She said while three males ran past her at the time, she had no recollection of who they were.
She added: "I was not in a state to observe everything. The police arrived and told the people to stand back. The ambulance came to check if he was still alive but he had already died."
About her son's gang affiliations, she told the court that he was acquainted with the Six Bobs gang.
Weavers said while she did not see his tjappies (tattoos) herself, she was told that he had a Six Bobs tjappie on his arm.
The mom said: "I don't know why he was killed but at the time there was a gang fight between the Six Bobs, the Dog Pounds and the Mongrels."
Padayachee was arrested by the Hawks in February 2021 and at the time of his arrest it was revealed that cops seized 17 illegal firearms in George, which were in transit from Johannesburg.
Investigations revealed that the firearms were allegedly destined for Cape Town gangs.
A further 44 firearms were seized from his business during the investigation process.
The trial continues next month.
Additional reporting: DAILY NEWS