A man alleged to be a leader of the Americans gang in Parkwood on the Cape Flats was fatally shot on Friday night in a violent attack that also left two others injured.
Timothy “Tamatie” Japhta lost his life when two gunmen ambushed him outside his residence in Willow Road, opening fire while he was seated inside his vehicle. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, reigniting concerns about gang violence in the area.
According to a source close to the matter, the assailants unleashed a barrage of bullets on Japhta’s black Toyota Rav 4.
“Tamatie was sitting behind the wheel of his black Toyota Rav 4 when two gunmen in a blue car arrived and klapped over 20 skote on his car,”
said the insider.
“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.”
Reports indicate that the gunmen used an Uzi submachine gun, executing their attack with precision before approaching Japhta at close range to ensure he was dead. They then swiftly fled the scene, leaving behind a community in shock.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the incident, stating that investigators are pursuing leads to apprehend those responsible.
“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,”
he said.
“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.”
Authorities have yet to confirm the identity of the suspects, but the nature of the attack suggests it was a targeted killing linked to ongoing gang conflicts in the area.
Japhta was no stranger to law enforcement. More than six years ago, he was thrust into the public eye when police and Law Enforcement officers conducted multiple raids on his home. During these operations, authorities discovered drugs concealed in various locations, including his undergarments, kitchen cabinets, and secret compartments in his bathroom.
Both Japhta and his brother were arrested on numerous charges, but each time they appeared in court, they would eventually return to Parkwood, only to be arrested again on fresh allegations.
In September 2019, Japhta made headlines once more when he publicly admitted to holding a senior rank within the 26s prison gang in the Western Cape. However, he consistently refuted claims that he was affiliated with the Americans gang.
At the time, he took the unusual step of approaching the media to distance himself from accusations linking him to the murder of one of his alleged associates. The man in question had reportedly been stabbed to death just days after robbing Japhta’s niece.
Japhta had previously served a nine-year prison sentence for hijacking and armed robbery, during which he was incarcerated at Embongweni Prison in Kokstad. It was there that he aligned himself with the 26s gang.
Upon his release seven years ago, he maintained that both the community and law enforcement had wrongly labelled him as a high-ranking figure within the Americans gang.
