CAPE TOWN – A 35-year-old Egyptian national has been sentenced on Tuesday 17 February to 40 years direct imprisonment after pleading guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Al Shaheed in March 2023.
Mustapha Elbesherny was convicted at the Mitchells Plain Regional Court in December 2025 on charges of murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice, assault common, and contravention of the Immigration Act. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
The case stems from the disappearance of Shaheed, who was kidnapped and murdered on 31 March 2023. When Shaheed was reported missing at Grabouw Police, a multi-disciplinary investigation team was immediately activated.
Investigators achieved a swift breakthrough, arresting Elbesherny and a co-accused in April 2023. One suspect was apprehended in the Eastern Cape, while the second was arrested in Grabouw. Both suspects were denied bail and remained in custody throughout the investigation.
The Western Cape Provincial multi-disciplinary Anti-Kidnapping Task Team continued the investigation before transferring the case to Mitchells Plain Regional Court for trial. Elbesherny entered guilty pleas on all charges brought against him.
The Western Cape has welcomed the substantial sentence, viewing it as a significant outcome in the fight against serious violent crime in the province.The case highlights the effectiveness of multi-disciplinary law enforcement cooperation, with investigators from multiple units working together to solve the crime and secure arrests within weeks of the initial report.
Elbesherny’s co-accused will face a separate trial, with the matter postponed to 26 February when a trial date will be set. The co-accused remains in custody pending the proceedings.The successful prosecution demonstrates the commitment of Western Cape law enforcement agencies to pursuing justice for victims of kidnapping and murder, crimes that have increasingly concerned communities across the province.
The Station Commander of the Grabouw Police, Colonel Winston Coetzee welcomes the lengthy sentence and applauded the investigation team for their exceptional dedication and hard work in bringing the case to a successful conclusion.
