Underworld kingpins, high-profile lawyers and even judges filled St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral for the funeral of advocate Pete Mihalik on Saturday.
The controversial defence attorney was buried after being assassinated two weeks ago outside his two children’s school in Green Point.
Mihalik’s 17-year-old daughter who was in his black Mercedes when he was shot, delivered a moving eulogy to her dad, but her eight-year-old brother who was injured in the shooting was absent as he is still recovering from the gunshot wound to his jaw.
Security was tight with several private bodyguards as well as a heavy police presence, reports Weekend Argus.
Among the mourners was alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, who was a pallbearer, and murder accused Colin Booysen, who is the brother of alleged Sexy Boys gang leader Jerome “Donkie” Booysen.
Colin Booysen and his lawyer Bruce Hendricks
Controversial businessman Nafiz Modack, as well as Judge Siraj Desai, were in attendance.
Mihalik was killed in his car outside Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard while dropping his kids.
The dead lawyer’s wife Karin, who suffered from depression, hanged herself in 2015 at the age of 48.
Mihalik was dating Tasmin Tobitt, the ex-wife of former Springbok rugby player Percy Montgomery.
— Luke Folb (@lukefolb) November 10, 2018
Pete Mahlik’s coffin now being moved out of the church. @WeekendArgus @IOL pic.twitter.com/rUANBkPjmM
— Luke Folb (@lukefolb) November 10, 2018
His daughter described Mihalik as “such an extraordinary man”.
“If you wanted something, he’d do anything and everything to achieve it. He built his kingdom from the ground up,” the teen said.
She said despite her father’s “arrogant and selfish facade”, he was one of the “most generous people”.
“On many occasions, he would give up his Saturday afternoons to take (my brother) and I from place to place.”
Ross McKernan spoke on behalf of Mihalik’s close friend, Jock Walters, detailing his life in law and his upbringing.
“Pete was a survivor. At the age of 12, he and his brother took a train to Bloemfontein, where they attended boarding school. The kids teased Pete because of his surname and it was there that Pete had to learn to stand up for himself.”
ATTEND: Court Judge Siraj Desai
“Even as a child, Pete gave good advice. He once told a classmate not to grow a wishbone where a backbone should be,” said McKernan.
He added that Mihalik took pride in his work and would “fight for the underdog”.
On Thursday, three men appeared in Cape Town Magistrate's Court on charges of murder.
The third suspect, Vuyile Maliti, joined Sizwe Sinzokohle Biyela and Nkosinathi Khumalo after he surrendered to police on Wednesday.
The men have also been charged with attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.
The Cape Bar announced a memorial service would be held for Mihalik at the Centre for the Book on Monday at 4.15pm.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za