Escalation in Cape Flats Gang Violence Linked to Mark Lifman's Murder

The killing of the alleged underworld gang leader, Mark Lifman, in George last month has apparently triggered a sharp rise in gang-related violence in the Cape Flats. This alarming spike in violence follows after Lifman was fatally shot in a supposed contract killing at the Garden Route Mall on November 3.

Anroux Marais, the Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, highlighted the critical upsurge in violence, with over 150 reported deaths due to shootings across the Cape Flats in the last three months alone. This trend seems to correlate directly with the vacuum and subsequent power struggles purportedly caused by Lifman’s untimely demise.

According to reports, Lifman, who had long been a prominent figure in Cape Town's criminal underworld, was targeted in a meticulously orchestrated assassination, allegedly prompted by an R10 million bounty. The bounty is said to have originated from an altercation involving Lifman and a high-profile businessman in Middelburg earlier in the year. This altercation apparently set off a chain of events, fueling the lethal plot against Lifman amid ongoing disputes over lucrative security assignments on various projects, including mines.

In the courtroom, the drama unfolds further as the accused killers of Lifman, Gert ‘Johnny’ Bezuidenhout and Johan ‘Jakes’ Jacobs, had their bail application postponed due to the absence of a senior advocate. This delay adds to the tensions and uncertainties surrounding the high-profile case, with the accused currently being held at an undisclosed prison for their safety.

The community remains on edge as the impact of Lifman’s murder reverberates through the Cape Flats, with residents and local authorities concerned about the increasing lawlessness and the volatile gang dynamics. During a recent court appearance on November 13, investigative reports disclosed that both Bezuidenhout and Jacobs had conducted several reconnaissance missions at the mall to track Lifman’s movements before executing their plan.

Adding a personal touch to the tragedy, several of Lifman’s acquaintances, including known figures such as Jerome ‘Donkie’ Booysen, André Naudé, and Joel Booysen, have been seen paying their respects at the crime scene, adorning the parking lot with bunches of Protea flowers.

The community and authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, hoping for stabilization and justice in the wake of such a significant and influential figure's violent departure from the underworld stage.