Management of police in Gauteng has welcomed the long-term sentence handed down in the South Gauteng High Court on Monday, 25 February 2019 to a man found guilty of three counts of murder and other serious offences related to gangs in Sophiatown, Johannesburg.
Francisco Miller (28) was arrested during an intelligence-led operation in Elsies River, Cape Town in April 2017 following an incident where three suspects from Cape Town arrived at Dorothea Flats in Newclare, Johannesburg, armed with R5 rifles and handguns. A man was shot and killed through the window of a flat while two other victims were killed during a shootout between two rival gangs.
Miller will effectively serve 40 years behind bars after pleading guilty for three counts of murder for which he was handed a 30-year sentence per murder; attempted murder with eight (8) years; robbery aggravated with 15 years; possession of unlicensed firearms another 15 years; and possession of ammunition with four (4) years.
Police have since last year intensified crime combating efforts in Sophiatown and the broader Westbury policing precinct following the violent protests that erupted in September 2018 where community members accused police of not doing enough in relation to fighting gangsterism and drugs.
More work is on the cards in unison with one of the Provincial Commissioner’s priorities that speaks to addressing organised crime and drugs.
Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, Gauteng Commissioner of Police, has commended the efforts of the investigating officers whose commitment and diligence has brought about this successful conviction and sentence, which will certainly go a long way in restoring public confidence in the Service.