Meet the Wynberg detective whose relentless pursuit of justice secured 100 years in convictions
Detective Sergeant Yusuf Gasant, was recognised by Wynberg Police for his commitment and discipline in policing.
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In a year marked by ongoing crime concerns in Wynberg, one detective’s consistent work has led to significant convictions and lengthy prison sentences, highlighting the impact of thorough investigations in the area.
According to Captain Silvino Davids of the Wynberg Police Station, Sergeant Yusuf Gasant has secured multiple convictions over the past financial year, with sentences totalling around 100 years.
According to Davids, the detective’s approach is defined by full ownership of cases - from the first report to the final court outcome.
This method, he said, has consistently produced strong evidence-led prosecutions, leading to guilty verdicts and lengthy sentences for offenders.
Among the cases highlighted is a robbery with a weapon other than a firearm, which resulted in a 15-year sentence.
In a separate matter involving the same accused, an attempted murder charge led to a 30-year sentence.
Another case involving robbery with a firearm resulted in a 12-year prison term.
Further convictions include a robbery with a weapon resulting in five years direct imprisonment, a common robbery where the accused received a three-year sentence following a guilty plea (with part of an original five-year sentence suspended), an eight-year sentence for another armed robbery (with four years suspended), and a further 15-year sentence in a firearm-related robbery case.
These cases, Davids noted, often stemmed from persistent crime hotspots, including Wynberg’s main road, Station Road, surrounding areas, and nearby informal settlements such as Wetton Road, where robberies and violent incidents frequently occur.
Gasant described a methodical approach built on gathering witness statements, maintaining a chain of evidence, and linking every stage of a case - from arrest to courtroom presentation.
Gasant, who joined Wynberg SAPS in 2009 and became a detective in 2015, says his work is rooted in personal experience.
“I was robbed when I was young,” he said.
“I work in serious and violent crimes because I’ve been there. I don’t want it to happen to someone else.”
Having attended school in Wynberg, Gasant described the area as a second home.
He said that detectives typically receive cases after arrests are made and must then build them for court through a detailed investigation.
He recalled one particularly complex case involving attempted murder, where the accused - an ex-boyfriend - attacked a woman and her family inside their home, stabbing multiple victims during the incident.
Further investigation revealed additional linked cases, including a rape matter confirmed through prosecutorial consultation, as well as a separate robbery.
The accused ultimately received multiple convictions totalling 45 years in prison.
Despite the pressure and complexity of the work, Gasant says success comes down to persistence.
“If you want to make it work, you will,” he said.