George “Geweld” Thomas, leader of the feared 28s gang in Bishop Lavis, was sentenced to an effective 175 years in jail in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for each of the seven murders he was convicted of.

In May, Judge Chantell Fortuin found Thomas guilty on seven counts of murder, two of racketeering, three of belonging to a criminal gang, three of conspiracy to commit a crime, ten counts of inciting the commitment of a crime, three counts of attempted murder, one of housebreaking with the intent to commit robbery, three counts of theft, eleven counts of illegally possessing firearms and ten of illegally possessing ammunition.

Thomas was convicted for the murders of:

– Angelo Claasen on February 28 2008 in Elsies River;

– Glenston Martin and Yuzrieh Abrahams on February 28 2008 in Wesbank;

– Haywin Strydom on November 5 2008 in Bishop Lavis;

– Cecil Barnes on October 16 2009 at his home in Bishop Lavis;

– Gresham Booysen on October 26 2009 in Kleinvlei; and

– Nydene Davids on February 14 2010 in Bishop Lavis.

Thomas and 18 of his co-accused were initially charged when the case began four years ago in the Western Cape High Court. Two of the accused – Fred Williams and Jason Stynder – were subsequently acquitted on all charges. Williams was murdered shortly after his acquittal.

The group initially faced 166 different counts. Thomas, who received the heaviest sentence, was convicted on 53 counts.

Also sentenced were, Peter McNiel, Derrick Claasen, Giovanni Kannemeyer, Alfonso van Heerden, Herman Wakefield, Mogammat Stemmet, Jerome Karlmeyer, Ashley Apollis, Kenneth Lavita, Howard Jansen, Ronald Swarts, Gregory Meyer, Ashraf Ryklief, Rodney Joubert, Ashwin Charles and Reyaaz Dennis. News24