Padayachee is on trial for arming Cape gangs

The Durban arms dealer accused of selling firearms to Cape Flats gangs has pleaded not guilty in the Western Cape High Court and said he would exercise his right to remain silent.

After weeks of delays, Anderson Padayachee, who is accused of working with the infamous Terrible Josters gang by supplying them with firearms for gang shootings, has finally been tried before Judge Daniel Thulare.

The owner of Anderson’s Guns and Ammo, based in Wentworth, Durban, pleaded not guilty to 66 charges.

These include murder, attempted murder, fraud, breach of the Fire Arms Control Act and charges under the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act (Poca).

Padayachee was captured by the Hawks in February 2021 and at the time of his arrest it was revealed that police in George had seized seventeen illegal firearms in transit from Johannesburg.

Further investigation revealed that the firearms were intended for skollies in Cape Town.

An additional 44 firearms were seized from his business during the investigation.

According to the indictment, Padayachee now faces eight counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder for shootings involving firearms he supplied.

The court papers allege Padayachee assisted the Terrible Josters between August 2017 and May 2019.

The cases involve the murder of several men who were shot in various areas including Bonteheuwel, Kalksteenfontein and Lotus River, among others.

Padayachee stood before Judge Thulare and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He did not enter a plea statement and said he was exercising his right to remain silent.

Public prosecutor Christiaan De Jongh said in his address to the judge that the State will bring several witnesses, including designated firearms officers from police stations who will testify about alleged violations by the dealer.

He also clarified that although Padayachee was not the actual shooter in the murder or attempted murder cases, the state will prove that he met with gangsters in Cape Town for the illegal sale of the weapons as the state claimed he should have known the facts. Guns would be used in shootings between gangs.

The state also claims that as a result of the smuggling with the Terrible Josters, Padayachee received R700,000.

Court documents provide a long list of firearms linked to alleged violations by Padayachee, including handguns, rifles and shotguns.

Padaychee is also accused of acting as a trainer and instructor for a security company without being accredited by the Registrar of Firearms.

The first state witness called was Muhammed Kolia of Selwel Sports KZN, who testified about the procedures followed when a dealer purchased firearms.

It is understood that Padayachee legally purchased firearms from Selwel and later committed violations.

The process continues.

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