The murder of alleged 27s gang boss William “Red” Stevens in Scottsville on Tuesday night has sparked fears of an all-out gang war as some of his troops accuse the 28s of the hit.
The notorious dik ding, who was known for his full face of tattoos and affiliations with other underworld figures, was gunned down by three gunmen outside his home in Rembrandt Street, Kraaifontein on Tuesday night.
Stevens, along with alleged gang boss Jerome “Donkie” Booysen and businessman Mark Lifman, was due to appear in court next week on charges of murder and money laundering, among others.
According to police sources, three black men approached Stevens, 66, and fired a klomp skote before fleeing the scene in a blue Hyundai.
Photographs taken at the scene show Stevens lying face down on the pavement as relatives rushed to cover his body with a blanket.
Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut confirmed the murder and says at around 6.35pm, three unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
“The identity of the victim cannot be disclosed at this premature stage,” he added.
But as a large crowd gathered outside Stevens’ home, several police sources confirmed to the Daily Voice that he was dead.
“He was shot nine times in total and there were klomp doppies on the scene,” revealed a source.
“He didn’t have bodyguards because he was a sangoma and even had a kamertjie in his house where he practised. That man believed in muti.
“He was the general of the 27s gang and made his money from smokkeling drugs and guns in the Northern Cape Flats like Wesbank, Mfuleni, Kraaifontein and even up until Stellenbosch.”
Shortly after the murder, videos of shootings in the community went viral on chat groups showing gunmen opening fire on each other.
Another source, with intimate knowledge of the underworld, told the Daily Voice that members of the 27s gang believe the 28s are behind the hit.
“They (the 27s) retaliated and went to go shoot on the 28s in the area and those are the videos that are going around. This could mean a gang war.”
A resident, who asked not to be named, says the area is tense and police presence is increased amid fears of further retaliation shootings.
Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele said he will call in the army if necessary: “First we need to arrest those people (in the shooting videos).
“If that call is made, we will work with the national and provincial office to increase the reinforcements in the area. Remember we still have the leeway of using members of the SANDF.”
Stevens, Booysen and Lifman were nabbed last month, and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering, in connection with the murder of Brian Wainstein who was killed in his Constantia home in August 2017.
Wainstein, known as the “Steroid King”, was on Interpol’s most wanted list several years ago, after he allegedly smuggled steroids worth R76 million into South Africa.
It is the state’s case that Lifman had an argument with Wainstein and paid Donkie for the assassination.
Booysen then allegedly recruited Stevens to carry out the hit. The trio were released on R100 000 bail each and the case is due to continue on 9 February.