By Mapaballo Borotho
- Two gang members have been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a 21-year-old pregnant woman in the Western Cape.
- The victim, 21-year-old Shahieda Nathan, was eight months pregnant and not the intended target.
- The case has sparked outrage, with concerns raised about repeat offenders and failures in crime prevention.
Two gang members have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a 21-year-old pregnant woman in 2020.
The Western Cape High Court handed down the hefty sentence to Jeremiah Fortuin and Ricardo Cloete for the killing of Shahieda Nathan, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her death.
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
While delivering the judgment, Judge Nonthuthuzelo Ralarala condemned the crime as a disgusting act of violence that continues to tear apart communities in the Cape Flats.
The pair, linked to the Ferodo gang in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein, were convicted on multiple charges, including murder, six counts of attempted murder, and the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
History of the crime
Fortuin and Cloete were arrested in June 2021 following a rival gang shooting in which Nathan was caught in the crossfire. She was not the intended target, but an innocent victim.
At the time of the shooting, Nathan was inside a shack with six other people when Fortuin opened fire, believing rival gang members were inside.
Both men are repeat offenders with criminal records dating back to 1997 and 1993.
Meanwhile, the African Transformation Movement (ATM) welcomed the judgment, saying it reflects society’s outrage.
However, the party warned that the case exposes serious failures in crime prevention, rehabilitation, and community protection.
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