By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
18 March 2025- The accused, George Barnett Peters and 16 others aged between 21 and 36, are expected to appear in the Northern Cape High Court sitting in Kimberley for trial. The trial is scheduled to take place from 17-28 March 2025.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said the group is facing numerous charges of aiding and abetting of criminal gang activities, 350 charges of money laundering, racketeering, murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearm, insurance fraud, kidnapping, rape, assault, conspiracy to commit murder and contravention of Section 9 Act 121 of 1998 Gang related offenses.
Thebe said Chane Adams (28), Shawnwin Smith (25), Henry Blom (28), Estee Sade Lawan (25), Bincent Rosen (37), Michael Peters (30), Semone Rose (30), Thabo Sekopano (36), Stephanie McAnda (22), Britney Arends (21), Janine Plaatjie (22) and Abigail Van Wyk (24), were arrested on 4 and 6 May 2023, in a multi-disciplinary approach consisting of Hawks Serious Organized Crime Investigation and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, Provincial Serious Organized Crime team and Crime Prevention.
“The accused persons were arrested in Kimberley and Kuruman simultaneously. It is alleged that between August 2020 and March 2023, a well-known gang from Kimberley was engaged in the above-mentioned criminal activities.
“During the arrest, one of the accused was found in possession of mandrax tablets and an undisclosed amount of money, which were confiscated for further investigation. An additional case against the accused (Shawnwin Smith) was registered for dealing in drugs,” he said.
Thebe further said members of Kimberley Serious Organised Crime Investigating team managed to successfully oppose bail against the group and only two (Chanaaz Mentor and Henry Blom) of the accused managed to be granted bail in October 2023, after a lengthy bail application process. He added other members of the group whom were arrested at different times and locations, include accomplices Deon May, Clive Peters, Nico Hofuza, Pameston Mentoor and Tshepo Malimbi.
“The case continues before the Northern Cape High Court sititng in Kimberley on 18 March 2025,” said Thebe.
The Guardian 