A convicted Cape Flats gang boss will spend the next 25 years in the mang after he was found guilty of an array of crimes including murder.
After an explosive trial, Horatio “Voudie” Solomons, the nephew of Ernie “Lastig” Solomons, was handed a life sentence in the Western Cape High Court on Monday.
The 31-year-old, along with five hitmen, was found guilty of a range of crimes which included murder, attempted murder, gang activity, drug smuggling and illegal gun possession.
The trial, which started in 2019, left mense in the courtroom speechless at times after the state’s star witness dropped bombshells against the 12 suspects accused of a killing spree that targeted members of various rival gangs in Delft, Belhar and Elsies River.
The witness, who may not be identified, named Horatio as the Western Cape leader of the Terrible Josters gang and said some of the other suspects took their instructions from him.
Of the 12 suspects who were charged, six were acquitted last month.
On Monday Judge Owen Rogers sentenced Horatio and his main hitman, Ismail Ockerts, to life behind bars for the 2017 murder of Vernon Botes in Delft.
The duo were also sentenced to nine and 12 years respectively for drug smuggling after they were caught by the Hawks with more than 300 mandrax pille in Horatio’s Durbanville home and charged under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
Rogers said they did not show any remorse for their actions: “They continue to protest their innocence. As far as I know, they still deny having ever belonged to the Terrible Josters.”
Hitman Fabian Constable was found guilty of the attempted murder of a rival gang member known as Mablou, of the Junior Mafia gang in Belhar, and was sentenced to 11 years in jail, while Ziyaad Safodien was found guilty of attempted murder and was sentenced to 10 years.
Hitmen Keenan Kruger and Lucian Consul, who were behind two high-profile gang hits, received the longest jail time for their role in taking out rival skollies.
The two were found guilty of the murder of Victor “Fox” Browers, an alleged dik ding in the 28s gang, and his affiliate, George Stevens, in Elsies River.
In his judgement, Rogers sentenced Kruger to 83 years in jail while Consul got 81 years.
Their sentences will run concurrently and they will effectively serve 25 years in jail.
Solomons, Ockerts, Kruger and Consul were also convicted and sentenced in terms of POCA for criminal gang activity.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata lauded the investigating officers for them to book.
“This brings to an end the terror and fear that these ruthless criminals inflicted on the communities where they operated their life of crime,” Matakata said.
monique.duval@inl.co.za