The Western Cape High Court witnessed a shocking scene on Tuesday as an alleged gang leader, Moegamat Toufiek “Bubbles” Brown, attacked one of his henchmen in the dock.
The incident occurred shortly before new evidence regarding the attempted hit on attorney William Booth was introduced, and tensions were already high.
It is alleged that Brown's co-accused, Riyaat Gesant, had been "piemped" (snitched on) by Brown, leading to a heated confrontation.
The drama unfolded during the trial of Nafiz Modack, a man accused of being a key figure in organised crime in Cape Town. Brown and Gesant are among several co-accused in the case, which centres around the attempted murder of Booth.
Gesant, who has already been sentenced for his role in the attempted hit on Booth, was convicted alongside Ebrahim Deare and Brown's wife, Kauthar. The trio were charged with aiding and abetting the activities of a gang, conspiracy to commit murder, and the attempted murder of the attorney. Deare was also charged with the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The trio entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State at the Cape Town Regional Court. Kauthar's sentence was suspended for five years; she was also sentenced to three years of correctional supervision for the attempted murder. Deare was handed a 10-year sentence, and Gesant received a five-year sentence for the hit on Booth on 9 April 2020.
During the trial, Brown was outed as the leader of the Terrible West Siders gang by another state witness. The state then entered a plea statement submitted by Gesant into evidence. This appears to have been the catalyst for the attack.
The incident occurred as Judge Robert Henney adjourned the court for the arrival of a new state witness, who was testifying virtually. Within seconds of leaving the courtroom, Brown was seen punching Gesant in the face as tempers flared in the dock.
Another co-accused, Mario “Piele” Pietersen, tried to stop the fight while Modack and Zane Kilian jumped out of the way. As police officers descended on the dock to usher Gesant away, Brown hit Pietersen over the head, shouting, “Sy ma se p***” (a vulgar insult). Brown was also seen throwing his watch to his wife in the public gallery.
Judge Henney addressed the accused and warned that if violent clashes continued, he would shackle those who participated in the fights for the duration of the trial.
Meanwhile, Brown's lawyer, Nazeer Parkar, told the court that his client had apologised for the outburst.
The incident has raised serious concerns about security at the court and the potential for further violence. The trial continues.
The Witness's Testimony
The driver who allegedly drove the hitmen to Booth's home has since taken the stand, where he explained how he made the trips to Higgovale. The witness, identified as "Mr D," told the court about the first botched attempt on Booth, saying Deare was "dik gerook on Mandrax" (heavily intoxicated on the drug).
Initially, the driver thought the group was breaking into homes but says he overheard a conversation with Brown, whom he called "The Big Fish." He claims Brown enquired, "Het julle gedala?" (Did you do it?). But Gesant replied, saying they had not yet "made the nommer vol" (completed the task).
"That is when I realised they were going to shoot someone," the witness said.
He described watching Gesant and Deare hide behind an electrical box and run towards Booth, who was wearing a blue gown, and fired shots at him.
The trial continues, with the court now facing the challenge of ensuring the safety of all involved while maintaining order and allowing the proceedings to continue.
