An alleged Americans gang boss from Parkwood, Cape Town, has died in a hail of bullets in a shooting that also left two others injured.
Timothy “Tamatie” Japhta was declared dead at the scene outside his home in Willow Road on Friday night after coming under attack by two gunmen while sitting in his car.
According to a source, the two gunmen fired over 20 shots at the well-known drug dealer.
The insider says: “Tamatie was sitting behind the wheel of his black Toyota Rav 4 when two gunmen in a blue car arrived and fired over 20 shots at his car. There was another male in the vehicle with him and a female was outside the car when the shooting happened. They were both injured, but survived. The information says that the shooters used an Uzi [submachine gun] and had even went up to him to ensure he was dead, shooting him at close range and fled the scene.”
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the shooting and says: “Grassy Park detectives are hard at work pursuing leads in a bid to apprehend those who are responsible for the death of a male and the attempt to kill another male and female on Friday. At around 11.30pm, unknown gunmen opened fire at the occupant of a vehicle and two people in Willow Road in Parkwood.
"The driver of the vehicle did not survive this onslaught on his life and was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel while a male aged 35 and a female aged 29 were admitted to hospital with injuries. The unknown suspects fled the scene. The motive for this murder and attempted murder is believed to be gang related.”
Japhta had previously been thrust into the spotlight over six years ago when Grassy Park SAPS and Law Enforcement officers descended on his home in a series of raids. During this time, police found drugs hidden in his underwear, kitchen cupboards, and secret compartments in his bathroom.
Japhta, along with his brother, were arrested on an array of charges. And shortly after their appearances in court, they would return to Parkwood where they would be arrested on new charges.
In September 2019, Japhta openly confessed to being among the highest-ranked 26 prison gang members in the Western Cape, but consistently denied his links to the Americans gang.
At the time, he approached the Daily Voice to deny being behind the murder of one of his own alleged henchmen amid reports that the gang member was stabbed to death just days after robbing Japhta’s niece.
Japhta said he spent nine years in prison for hijacking and armed robbery and was sent to Embongweni Prison in Kokstad where he joined the 26s prison gang. After being released seven years ago, he claimed that the community and police incorrectly labelled him as the Americans gang boss.
