Tuesday 18 November 2014

Mark Lifman in "Cape Town’s underworld"



The Institute for Security Studies has done some research titled "Cape Town's underworld: Mapping a protection racket in the central business district" which we would like to quote here:

Specialised Protection Services

Shortly after Beeka’s death companies and networks were amalgamated that had previously been rivals and had been operating in various forms for decades. Former Beeka allies such as Jacques Cronje, some former ‘Maroccans’, including Housain Ait Taleb, and former rivals such as Andre Naude headed the security company. The company SPS (represented with the code PRBUSPS), was supposedly under the leadership of businessman Mark Lifman (code BUML), an infamous property developer, and was allegedly supported by the Booysen brothers, who were allegedly the leaders of a Cape Flats street gang known as the ‘Sexy Boys’. The development of this company was accompanied by serious threats and extortion as it muscled its way into the city’s security system.

The company was shut down a few months after its establishment because it did not register correctly with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, and Lifman and Naude faced 300 charges related to its illegal operation. However, payments (i.e. extortion) still continued, according to fieldwork interviews. The growth of SPS and its impact in the city centre led to large number of reports primarily published by Independent Newspapers that investigated the links among the various groups and the historical links with Beeka.

Two of the most notorious nodes associated with SPS were Mark Lifman and Jerome Booysen, the alleged backers of the company. It is believed that Lifman sought to take over Beeka’s operation in the Cape Town CBD after the latter’s death. Having already invested heavily in both property and entertainment venues in the CBD, it is thought that Lifman saw himself as the new ‘controller’ of the CBD, and the security racket that Beeka ran was extremely lucrative.

Lifman occupies a peculiar role as he is not part of any traditional criminal ‘gang’ and is instead a highly networked actor with links to high-ranking individuals who operate in both the criminal and legitimate business and entertainment sectors. Lifman has a vast business portfolio and owns a number of properties in the city and CBD, as well as a number of clubs and bars. His business interests also include several fashion labels, and he was recently reported to be interested in investing in the manufacturing of ‘cheap white’ cigarettes. He had also been involved in the horse-racing industry, before being banned by the Jockey Club after intimidating and assaulting a jockey with Yuri Ulianitski.

Lifman has a mutually beneficial relationship with Jerome Booysen and his brother Colin. Up to 2006 Jerome had been a city employee for 20 years and made a significant fortune with Lifman in property development, particularly in the suburb of Belhar, where the Sexy Boys operate. His previous position in the city administration was in the housing department, and although this was seen as a legitimate job, his family maintained violent and ruthless control of Belhar and he was accused of murder three times. His brother Michael, who as of January 2014 was serving a life sentence for murder, was seen as the previous leader of the gang and was suspected of being involved in over 50 murders during a bloody gang war when the brothers wanted to leave CORE, which was an agreement among various gang leaders drawn up in 1998. Jerome had previously held the position of CORE vice president, suggesting he was highly placed in the criminal hierarchy while in his position in the city housing department.

Booysen is widely regarded as the head of a violent gang and his support of Lifman allegedly enabled Lifman to try to ll the power vacuum created by Beeka’s death without using much violence. Jerome Booysen has recently come under further suspicion of organised crime because properties in his name have been used as drug laboratories. In the community of Belhar he is both notorious and feared. He is the head of the Belhar Rugby Club and has played a prominent role in the community.

What is noticeable about this particular group is that it is heavily invested in an array of businesses that provide for those involved, quite apart from being potential cover for laundering the proceeds of crime. While Booysen’s gang has also arguably taken on a ‘criminal governance’ role in the Belhar region, its potential to commit acts of violence has had an impact outside the geographic region where it is most involved.

When the speculation around SPS took place, Lifman and Booysen were also able to arrange a meeting with a former executive mayor of Cape Town and the current MEC responsible for community safety, Dan Plato. It is also known that Plato has on numerous occasions met with Booysen in Belhar, given Booysen’s influence in the area. This does not suggest a corrupt relationship, but rather illustrates the potential reach of Booysen’s social network into the political realm, and the social and economic influence actors like him wield


17 comments:

  1. The post is written in very a good manner and it contains many useful information for me.
    security system provider

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  3. Good'Day Mark.

    I have to trust you are well.

    I've added over 30 business referrals to your website over the past six years , referrals for a R15 Million Commercial Property Sale and R3 Million order for whole sale Green Bean's , and an introduction to a two Company's of which one is using 300 Thousand Kilograms of refined white sugar per month and another using 1 hundred thousand kilograms of refined white sugar per month , I've also referred numerous residential property buyers to you on your website over the years and even some car sales , I've also added a collection of a debt too a friend that he needs help collecting and there's been absolutely no reply from you over the year's. Not even a job offer or even a tip.

    I imagine that your R100 Hundred Million keeps you in business but then again so have I (that's if any of my business referrals were taken into consideration) ... There's not much business referrals left to add too your website obviously I deleted some of the business referrals after a few months as I recieved some strange texts and phone calls. One good phone call recently was from AJ he is up in Durbs and doing good (Thanks).

    I'd like to know if Florian and Argo and Gary are doing alryt? I'm still wanting to further my business study's at the moment I've studied Grade 12 with NorthLink Business College and International Hotel School and Web Design and Small Business Management. I can not seem to find any full-time work just a few Bob jobs here and there doing painting and fixing. I have however met an important business man year 2017 and I've been providing services when necessary however there's been no exchange of any moneys or wages , just a letter of Employment and some boxes of cigarettes and a couple of cold drinks over the year's. Oh and two evenings at Mavericks Cape Town City believe me I'd have much rather used the one-hundred-rand entrance fee too Mavericks twice on the JSE I could have had extra shares.

    I've read through this website of yours a few times but I don't know you like that. I met you when I was sixteen you let me manage your shop in Cape Town City you've always just been a business mogul ... Some of the comments from rude individuals were just uncalled for. They shouldn't try tarnishing your name.

    I imagine you're busy with Hollywood Sports Betting if you have time to contact me and offer me some full-time work then in exchange for my wages and work I could keep on passing to you more business referrals maybe we makes a business.

    Kindly reply at your respected convenience.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind Regard's Jason
    Ph 0637049031

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  4. Hi Mark

    I noticed that some of your Hollywood Sports Betting Stations haven't got a Facebook page.

    I'm also a media consultant for Devland Group would you like me start a Hollywood Sports Betting page on Facebook for Cape Town City and Wynberg and Bothasig.

    I won't cost you too much. I could charge R100 per day to manage the page surely a R100 per day isn't too steep for you.

    Surely you will find the time to reply too me at your respected convenience.

    Many Thank's Jason
    Ph 637049031

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  5. Hi Mark

    Kindly contact Lika Blank she is an international model looking for a six-bedroom villa to rent for a Movie Shoot Lika Blank is on 007 916 682 36 75

    ThankYou & Kind Regard's Jason
    Ph 0637049031

    "some commission for me will be nice"

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  6. Good'Day Mark.

    I trust you are well.

    I couldn't sign into my account with Hollywood Sports Betting , will you be so kind as too look into this. I'm sure the above-mentioned business referral covers for my winnings should I win with Hollywood Sports Betting as you also haven't given me any commission for my previous Business Referrals. If you're finding it too difficult to be my sport's betting bookie kindly look through your website and find the Referral from me for Leigh that is wanting to purchase a R15 Million Commercial Property ... I'm almost sure you'd have received a 3% commission which is almost R450 000 of which you'd be most welcome to have credited to me a 10% commission which is almost R45 000 , there's a massive difference between R450 000 and R45 000 that's a massive 10/1 from me to you. I trust that my sport's bets aren't too much for your pocket at the moment. Kindly be thankful that I didn't just take or win without crediting you with a decent Business Referrals. You are one of my favourite childhood hero's.

    Concerned Regard's Jason

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  7. Hi Mark

    I opened my account with Hollywood Sports Betting almost three years' ago. ThankYou for the first credit of R25. I played on my account with Hollywood Sports Betting for almost eighteen months before trying to withdraw a R50 to my banking account which I still to this day haven't received yet. It was only a R50 , I didn't anger as you previously credited me with a R25 account opening bonus. Just so that you and fellow colleagues acknowledge that that R25 was well credited and repaid double by a R50 from me which I still haven't received thanks for. Yes some commission should be good toe also should you make any closures from the Business Referral's I added to your website "kindly"

    Concerned Regard's Jason

    "are you really doing alryt kind Sir"

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  8. Lol predictive text also acting up ... they should try too find who is colluding that the predictive text is also acting up ...

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  9. Thanks Mark

    I'm in my account with Hollywood Sports Betting again. I am also looking for another Business Referral for you and the guys. Sincere Apologies that the work load for business Referrals from me weren't too much kindly note it's not too easy without set wages or commission from you. If you allow me to know what type of business Referrals you are looking for that will also make making Business Referrals to you easier. You're alryt in my books I imagine the business referrals from me to you help your pocket as you have lot's of winners to also pay. Kindly note some Companies and Sales Colleagues haven't paid to my 10% commission yet. Some still have the check to ask me for a written invoice when my texts too them are in English. I think they're condescending on their Ethics and Morals and Values as University Graduate's.

    Kindly reply at your respected convenience as your convenience is respected.

    Concerned Regard's Jason
    0637049031

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  10. Hi Mark

    I met an awesome character that buys "blocks of flats" will you be so kind as to phone too me. I'm in on WhattsApp 0637049031

    Special Thank's Jason

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Mark

    Gina Wolf 0823322917 is looking to buy a R6 Million house. Kindly reply at your respected convenience.

    Thanks Jason
    Ph 0637049031
    "some commission will be nice Thankyou"

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Mark

    Rudi Joubert 0839688837 is looking for a 4 bedroom house or a 3 bedroom house with granny flat in Bothasig Area.

    Thanks Jason
    Ph 0637049031
    "some commission will be nice Thankyou"

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Mark

    Nadeem 0646571128 want's to buy cars and Bakkies at R30 Thousand each

    Kind Regard's Jason
    Ph 0637049031
    "Enjoy"

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Mark

    I hope your contacts are handy , a Maryke 0835612823 want's to buy a caravan for holiday purposes at R35 Thousand.

    Thanks Jason
    Ph 0637049031
    "Enjoy"

    ReplyDelete
  15. Merry Christmas Mark

    Jane 0824470575 want's to buy a three bedroom house. It will also be a nice treat for you to kindly phone too me in the new year , when you're not to busy (I'd like a good talk with You). Kindly reply at your respected convenience.

    Kind Regard's Jason

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