Mark Lifman murder: Bail application next year

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The presence of Mark Lifman's friends Jerome 'Donkie' Booysen and André Naudé, along with Booysen's son Joel, caused quite a stir during court proceedings last week.

The two men accused of Lifman's murder, Johannes 'Jakes' Jacobs (53) and Gert 'Johnny' Bezuidenhout (37), appeared for their formal bail application in the George Magistrate's Court on Thursday morning, 12 December.

Outside court, Booysen explained they had come in support of their friend Lifman.

Lifman was shot in the parking lot of the Garden Route Mall on Sunday 3 November. He was due to appear in the Western Cape High Court the next day, Monday 4 November, for the Brian Wainstein murder trial.

Wainstein, who was known as the 'Steroid King', was shot at his home in Constantia, Cape Town in August 2017. Lifman was the main accused alongside Booysen and Naudé.

The suspects were arrested in Uniondale within hours after the shooting, which was captured on CCTV cameras.

André Naudé (left), Donkie Booysen and Booysen's son Joel, with two more supporters of Lifman were among the people in the gallery during court proceedings. Photos: Kristy Kolberg

Raid on PPA

Armed police officers raided the Cape Town headquarters of PPA Security in Milnerton on Thursday 5 December, seizing firearms and documents. The operation involved multiple Anti-Gang Unit vehicles and masked tactical officers.

It is believed that Bezuidenhout was the right-hand man of PPA Security CEO Alwyn Landman. PPA Security management said the two accused had only done contract work for them.

Landman's house in Table View was also raided. Reports suggest police confiscated laptops, cellphones, firearms and ammunition. It is believed that Landman is currently in Namibia for his and his family's safety amid concerns about the Wainstein trial, as four of the accused, including Lifman, have been killed.

The scene at the Garden Route Mall after Lifman was shot on 3 November.

Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie did not confirm whether the raids were linked to Lifman's murder and declined to provide details, saying only that it was "part of the ongoing police investigation."

Addressing the court last Monday morning, Jacobs and Bezuidenhout's defence attorney told the magistrate they needed a postponement so senior counsel could be brought in to defend the accused.

He explained that his clients had been moved to an unnamed prison far from George for their safety, and consultations were problematic.

The case was postponed to 16 and 17 January for a bail application.

Mark Lifman