Controversial businessman Mark Lifman, who allegedly put a R20 million hit on his rival Nafiz Modack, previously provided security to the restaurant now accusing Modack of extortion and intimidation.
Modack and four others were arrested on 15 December and appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s court for bail
proceedings.
The group are alleged to be behind a violent takeover of the nightclub security industry in Cape Town, forcing owners of clubs and restaurants to pay their company, TSG (The Security Group), for protection.
Modack, Colin Booysen - the brother of alleged Sexy Boys gang leader Jerome Donkie Booysen - Ashley Fields, Jacques Cronje and Carl Lakay face eight charges of extortion and one charge of intimidation after they allegedly tried to extort R369 000 from The Grand Africa Cape and Beach near the V&A Waterfront.
Modack, who claims to have connections with top cops, is also set to be charged with the murder of a bouncer at the Cubana bar in Green Point in December.
On Tuesday, Investigating officer Colonel Charl Kinnear testified the accused were part of a “new faction” in the underworld,
taking over the nightclub scene from Lifman’s group.
During cross-examination, Booysen’s lawyer Advocate Bruce Hendricks asked Kinnear: “Who is the old faction? Who is the new faction? Can you explain what you mean by this?”
RIVAL: Businessman Mark Lifman
Kinnear replied: “The old faction is the previous security bosses of the nightclub scene, Andre Naude, Mark Lifman, Jerome Booysen and Colin Booysen, who were a part of the old faction. The new faction is all the accused now before the court.”
Hendricks then stated: “SPS [Specialised Protection Services] was the old security of The Grand and is Mark Lifman’s company, part of the old faction. Did you know that?”
“No, I did not,” Kinnear answered.
Last week, Modack’s lawyer, Advocate Edwin Grobler, claimed Lifman put a hit on his client.
“There will be evidence at a later stage that a R20 million hit was placed on his life and this came from a source from SAPS,” he had said.
Hendricks said on Tuesday there was no reason to deny Booysen, a taxi owner, bail.
“My client has no pending matters. The last time he was convicted was in 1992 and he was released in 2005.
“He also is not a flight risk as he does not have any travelling documents,” he said.
TOP COPS: Jeremy Vearey, left, and Charl Kinnear, right, at court
“He is someone with a fixed address, he has property in his name and a home valued at R3.5 million.
“My client has a monthly income of R60 000 and his vehicles’ approximate value is R500 000, he has no reason to flee.”
But Kinnear said Booysen poses a danger to the public.
“Witnesses fear Booysen and his gang relations and that is the reason I am opposed to bail,” he said.
The court was packed with police officers, including Major-General Jeremy Vearey, who had made the five arrests.
Last month, the court had heard that Vearey was working for the 26s, 27s and 28s gangs, according to voice recordings made by Modack.
The accused’s bail application resumes today.