The endeavours of our members to root out the evil phenomena of gangsterism in this province were rewarded when a gangster, Alfriedo Blake was incarcerated for a lengthy period of time for his criminal activities. The sentence of 170 years is welcomed by the Western Cape police management and should serve as a warning that crime does not pay.
On 1 April 2019 Anti-Gang Unit detectives registered a project on the Mobster gang grouping, a criminal entity that was mostly responsible for gang activities in the Mfuleni and Kleinvlei areas.
This criminal gang also committed various criminal activities which included inter alia murders, attempted murders, illegal possession of firearms, dealing in drugs, intimidation and extortion.
On 25 February 2020 an operation was conducted by the unit which resulted in the arrest of 16 members of this notorious gang, including the leader and his lieutenants.
Detectives attached to the AGU pursued every avenue during their investigation and brought the accused before court with a watertight case against him.
Alfriedo Blake entered into a plea bargain with the State on 12 April 2022, and was sentenced as follows in the Cape Town High Court:
Count: 1. POCA- five years imprisonment
Count: 2. Murder- 30 years imprisonment
Count: 3. Possession of unlicensed firearm- eight years imprisonment
Count: 4. Unlawful possession of ammunition- two years imprisonment
Count: 5. Murder- 30 years imprisonment
Count: 6. Possession of unlicensed firearm- ten years imprisonment
Count: 7. Unlawful possession of ammunition- two years improvement
Count: 8. Robbery aggravated- ten years imprisonment
Count: 9. Conspiracy to commit murder- five years imprisonment
Count: 10. Murder- 40 years imprisonment
Count: 11. Attempted murder- ten years imprisonment
Count: 12. Possession of unlicensed firearm- eight years imprisonment
Count: 13. Unlawful possession of ammunition- two years imprisonment
Count: 14. Attempted murder- ten years imprisonment.
The sentences will be served concurrently with count ten and Blake will spend 40 years in prison.
