Jerome Booysen has publicly accused Alwyn Landman, the owner of PPA Security, of orchestrating the assassination of notorious underworld figure Mark Lifman.
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The accusation comes as two men linked to PPA Security appeared in court this week, charged with the murder of the 57-year-old businessman, who was gunned down in broad daylight in George.
Lifman, who had a history of involvement in the criminal underworld, was shot and killed on Sunday as he walked to his vehicle in the parking lot of Garden Route Mall. CCTV footage captured the harrowing moment, showing a white VW Polo speeding away from the scene.
The suspects, identified as Johannes Hendrik Jacobs and Gert Johannes Bezuidenhout, were apprehended after a chase by police and local security teams.
They were found near Uniondale, with surveillance footage from a nearby farm revealing them changing the car’s licence plates in a bid to avoid detection. Sources confirmed that Jacobs, the alleged shooter, and Bezuidenhout, the getaway driver, are both connected to PPA Security.
Jacobs, a former member of South Africa’s elite Task Force unit, was reportedly known for his precision with firearms.
Bezuidenhout, also linked to PPA, was said to have been involved in providing security services as an independent contractor. Both men were charged with murder and remanded in custody, with their next court appearance scheduled for 13 November for a bail hearing.
Before the court appearance, Booysen, a well-known figure in the underworld, claimed that Landman was behind the assassination.
‘Both of them [Jacobs and Bezuidenhout] work for PPA, and Johnny [Jacobs] is a top shooter, he’s Landman’s right-hand man. This was all done at his command,’ Booysen said.
He further suggested that Landman’s current success in the security business was largely due to his previous association with Lifman and implied that the murder was connected to a fallout between the two.
In response, PPA Security denied the allegations. Colin Adams, PPA’s operations manager, issued a statement refuting Booysen’s claims.
‘The information provided by Mr. Booysen is factually incorrect,’ Adams said.
He clarified that Jacobs had been an independent contractor for PPA for about two years, providing specialised training in riot and crowd management, and had never been directly employed by the company. Adams also stated that Bezuidenhout was no longer contracted by PPA following the murder, although he had been a security guard at the Shimmy Club before working his way up in the industry.
Adams firmly denied any connection between PPA Security and Lifman’s death. He also stated that Lifman had no involvement with the company and had played no role in its founding or operations. ‘Mr. Lifman was not associated with PPA in any way,’ he added.
Meanwhile, a close friend of Lifman, Andre Naude, revealed that Lifman had narrowly escaped an attempt on his life just days before his murder.
Naude shared that while driving near Paarl on the N1 highway last Wednesday, another vehicle pulled up alongside him, and the driver brandished a gun. Naude drew his own weapon, and the assailants fled the scene. Naude did not file a police report, as no shots were fired and the incident was deemed inconclusive.
As the investigation into Lifman’s murder continues, the accusations against PPA Security have only intensified the mystery surrounding the circumstances of his death. The connection between the security company, the arrested suspects, and Lifman’s criminal ties remains under close scrutiny.
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