Illustration: The Ugly Americans gang's reign of terror, sees nine arrested and ten being sought.
Image: File
Nine suspects believed to be members of the notorious Ugly American’s gang who allegedly carried out a reign of terror for two decades on the communities of Mitchells Plain, Athlone and Table View, have finally been stopped in their tracks.
Igshaan Abrahams, Zainoedien Greeff, Emilio Young, Shuaib Daniels, Shiraaj Hendricks, Paul Solomon, Elton Jonkers, Jerome Hoffman and Muneeb Solomons have been arrested and now face a mammoth court case.
The array of 71 charges against them includes murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, robbery, possession of drugs and dealing in drugs, tendering of counterfeit money, reckless and negligent driving, malicious injury to property, and resisting arrest.
The group made an appearance in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court on Friday.
The court heard that ten others are still being sought.
The State indicated that once the ten others were arrested, one formal bail application would take place on July 21.
The names Igshaan Abrahams, Zainoedeen Greef and Paul Solomon are no strangers to the court or media.
The trio are part of a group believed to be behind the murder of Cape Town dad, Malcolm Pather, who was burnt beyond recognition in July 2025 in Melkbosstrand.
Pather was allegedly lured by the group and was driving a BMW at the time.
The case is back on the roll on July 16 at the Atlantis Magistrate's Court.
The State has since provided a senior prosecutor to lead the case and indicated that it would be against bail as gangs were a large contributor of violence on the Cape Flats.
According to their charge sheet, the State is set to prove under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), that the group are members of the Ugly Americans gang is said to operate under strict hierarchies, mimicking the hierarchies of prison gangs like the “26” and “27”.
Slain Malcom Pather. Evidence found at the crime scene led to a potential suspect who was identified on video footage in possession of Pather’s vehicle.
Image: Supplied
According to court documents, the gang's criminal activities extend from October 2002 until December 2025.
Abrahams, referred to as accused 1, has been charged with multiple counts of murder, including one incident where he allegedly shot and killed a victim in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, on October 30, 2014.
The Cape Argus takes note not to mention the victim's family and safety concerns.
The gang has also been allegedly implicated in numerous counts of robbery, where they apparently threatened victims with firearms while stealing cellphones, vehicles, and cash.
The papers state that drugs have allegedly played a significant role in the gang's operations, with charges involving the possession and dealing of tik and mandrax.
The State is also set to prove that Abrahams is guilty of attempted murder in that he had tried to kill an adult female in Harvester Street, Westridge, Mitchells Plain, by shooting her with a firearm on October 30, 2014.
It's further alleged that on July 13, 2015, the same accused attempted to kill a minor child and a female with a firearm at or near Bordeaux Street, Westridge.
According to the charge sheet, Solomons is accused of unlawfully and intentionally assaulting a female victim by punching her in the face, throwing a brick at her and twisting her right arm.