Anderson Padayachee in the Western Cape High Court. Picture: Mahira Duval/Independent Newspapers
Cape Town - A Lainsburg police officer has lifted the lid on the links between slain Tik Tok creator Suhail Mohamed, 34, aka Mr Zulu, and Durban arms dealer Anderson Padayachee, saying Mohamed was present during a gun bust in 2018.
This came to light in the Western Cape High Court yesterday, as Padayachee returned for the continuation of his trial.
The owner of Anderson’s Guns and Ammo in Wentworth, Durban, Padayachee has pleaded not guilty to 66 charges against him, including murder, attempted murder, fraud, violating the Firearms Control Act, and charges under the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act.
Padayachee is accused of selling firearms illegally to the Terrible Josters gang, and was arrested by the Hawks in February 2021.
At the time of his arrest, it was revealed that police seized 17 illegal firearms in George, which were in transit from Johannesburg.
Further investigation revealed the firearms were allegedly destined for the Cape Town gang.
Another 44 firearms were seized from his business during the investigation process.
Sergeant Shavon Colin Felix took the stand yesterday, and told Judge Daniel Thulare that he first crossed paths with Padayachee on June 9, 2018, as he travelled between Laingsburg and Touwsrivier.
He said Padayachee was driving a silver VW Polo sedan at a high speed and he recorded the number plate.
After discovering the plate was fake, he chased after Padayachee, sirens blaring as he called for back up.
After being stopped along with the help of colleagues from Touwsrivier SAPS, he discovered the driver was
Padayachee, who was accompanied by a woman and two children seated in the back and a bearded man in the passenger seat.
Felix said Padayachee claimed that Mohamed was his brother.
The group was taken to Touwsrivier police station after police discovered a firearm in the car and a search of the vehicle revealed that 17 firearms and 24 magazines were found in the boot of the vehicle.
The cop alleges that after first lying about not having any firearms or anything illegal in his car, Padayachee told him he was an arms dealer in Durban and was going to sell the firearms in Cape Town.
During a photo ID parade conducted a year later, it was discovered that the bearded man was Mohamed.
Asked how he could remember them so clearly, Felix responded: “I identified the passenger and the driver because I was talking to them for [long] periods of time. I remember their faces.”
Mohamed was shot and killed earlier this month in front of slain alleged gang boss, Peter Jaggers’ house, in Netreg.
Felix said he later learnt the two men were let go and the firearms returned as none of the guns were found to be stolen.
The trial continues.
mahira.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
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