The inaugural witness at the trial of Mark Lifman, Jerome ‘Donkie’ Booysen, Andre Naude, and others, testified that he served as a debt collector for Lifman, leveraging his imposing stature to coerce individuals into settling their debts.
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This comes after controversial businessman Mark Lifman, alleged Sexy Boys gang boss Jerome Booysen, and 12 other men all entered pleas of not guilty to a multitude of charges presented to them in the Western Cape High Court on Monday.
‘If that didn’t work out, we would be physical,’ said Mr X.
Neither he nor his brother can be named, filmed, photographed, or discussed on social media due to a court order. This is because he might divulge information in exchange for potential immunity and is concerned about his family’s safety.
According to News24, three co-accused, Anthony Aamier van der Watt, William Stevens, and Jason Maits, were murdered prior to the trial commencing. Additionally, the case is marked by numerous murders of purported associates who were not charged.
A risk assessment concluded that Mr X and his family would face danger if their identities were revealed in any form. Mr X is currently under witness protection, and the Witness Protection Act prohibits disclosing individuals in the programme.
The trial revolves around the murder of steroid smuggler Brian Weinstein, who was fatally shot in his Constantia home in August 2017 while sleeping alongside his wife and young child. It also encompasses a period of violent conflict between two prominent security providers and nightclub bouncers in Cape Town, primarily in 2017, as they vied for contracts, with patrons caught in the crossfire.
Lifman’s group purportedly sought to displace a rival faction led by Nafiz Modack and Jerome Booysen’s brother Colin, who had parted ways with Lifman’s group and aligned with Modack, causing a significant rift. The State alleges that Lifman’s group enlisted 27s gangsters from Kraaifontein to forcefully persuade venues contracted to Modack to switch services, culminating in a confrontation near the Waterfront.
Simultaneously, the State contends that Lifman and other steroid dealers perceived Weinstein’s control over the illegal steroid market as too restrictive and sought his elimination. Mr X purportedly became involved in this scheme.
According to Mr X’s testimony, he previously worked in insurance sales but struggled to make ends meet after relocating from Johannesburg to Cape Town in 2015.
He turned to his brother, who allegedly worked in debt collection with the accused, Sam Farquharson, for employment opportunities. Subsequently, Mr X began working alongside Farquharson in debt collection.
He testified, ‘Basically, there would be someone who owed money, and we would be paid to go and intimidate the person who owed us.’
‘The money was owed to either Mark [Lifman], Sam [Farquharson] or Brian [Weinstein].’
The decision to either intimidate or resort to assault was made on a case-by-case basis. Mr X stated that neither he nor his brother had any prior experience or qualifications in debt collection or debt counselling.
‘Just our physicalty,’ he testified, further mentioning that his brother was tall and overweight.
‘I have lost 50kg,’ Mr X told Judge Vincent Saldanha.
He eventually ‘transitioned’ to full-time debt collection, testifying that some of the individuals they confronted would report them to the police for assault. However, Mr X claimed that Farquharson would receive money from Weinstein and that Sea Point policeman Wayne Henderson would be compensated to dismiss the cases. The reasons behind the owed money have not yet been disclosed.
All of the accused have pleaded not guilty. If Mr X’s testimony satisfies the judge, he may receive immunity from the crimes he implicates himself in at the trial’s conclusion.
The prosecutor presented a list of potential crimes Mr X might incriminate himself in while testifying. These include murder, obstruction of justice, violations of the Riotous Assemblies Act, the Prevention of Corrupt Activities Act, money laundering, involvement in criminal gang activities, illegal sale of scheduled steroids and cocaine compounds, as well as breaches of the Private Security Act and its regulations.
The State alleges that Mr X and his brother were also initiated into the 27s gang.
Just as Mr X was beginning his testimony, the court had to adjourn because two of the accused, who were in custody, needed to return to the prison for supper. The corridors and streets surrounding the court were heavily guarded, especially since the Modack and Lifman murder trials were being held in the same section of the court.
Armed police officers filled the passage, while inside, the walls were adorned with the accused, displaying a variety of tattoos, from intricate geometric patterns on their arms to small sparrows etched onto sharp cheekbones. Outside, those out on bail joined supporters in the public gallery to observe the proceedings.
Modack’s trial, situated two courts down, primarily focuses on the murders of Anti-Gang Unit detective Charl Kinnear, Hawks officer Nicolaas Heerschap, and tow truck driver Richard Joseph. However, the two trials intersect in many aspects, with the State asserting that Lifman and Modack are adversaries.
In his opening statement, Modack’s lawyer, advocate Bash Sibda, asserted that Modack believed there was a conspiracy against him orchestrated by Lifman, Jerome Booysen, and certain senior ‘corrupt’ police officers because he opposed drugs being present in the clubs he protected.
Modack is also accused of unlawfully tracking Lifman and Booysen’s whereabouts, allegedly with the assistance of his co-accused, Zane Kilian. The triggerman, referred to as Mr A, is currently giving testimony in that trial, with his identity also safeguarded.
Additionally, Modack is facing trial in the Cape Town Regional Court for purportedly corrupting the former station commander of the Cape Town police station, Kolin Govender. It is alleged that Modack paid Govender to utilise police resources under his command to trace cars that Modack claimed he was recovering for a bank.
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Picture: Jaco Marais / Gallo Images