Cape Town’s 2017 nightclub scene was a battleground for underworld power struggles. Witness Mr X narrates the story of the ‘takeover’ of nightclub security during trial proceedings against Mark Lifman, Jerome Booysen, Andre Naude, and others. Their shadow operations included the use of burner phones and minimal weapons possession, carefully avoiding law enforcement detection. The ongoing trial serves as a lens into a tumultuous past, encapsulating a period when nightclubs became a battlefield for underworld power struggles.
Cape Town’s 2017 nightlife scene was marked by fierce competition among security factions battling for control over the city’s club industry. Witness Mr X revealed the inside story of the ‘takeover’ of nightclub security in Cape Town’s Central Business District during trial proceedings against Mark Lifman, Jerome Booysen, Andre Naude, and others. The sophistication of their shadow operations included the use of burner phones, minimal weapons possession, and careful avoidance of law enforcement detection. The ongoing trial serves as a lens into a tumultuous past, encapsulating a period in Cape Town’s history when nightclubs became the battlefield for underworld power struggles.
Unfolding the Story
Cape Town’s 2017 nightlife scene was nothing less than a plot of an action-packed crime film, characterized by the fierce competition among security factions battling for control over the city’s vibrant club industry. A witness identified only as Mr X narrates the story in court, where the charged individuals – Mark Lifman, Jerome Booysen, Andre Naude, and others – are standing trial.
During the trial, Mr X reveals the inside story of the ‘takeover’ of the nightclub security in Cape Town Central Business District (CBD). His account is a chilling tale of an era where the city’s nightlife was governed by an entirely different set of rules.
According to Mr X, the ‘reclaim’ operation was like a scene straight out of a gangster movie. Luxury bulletproof vehicles and taxis, driven by him and other gangsters, shuttled from one club to another. They had a clear goal – to reestablish their authority by instilling fear in club owners and managers. The ultimate aim was to compel them to revert to their security services.
The Sophisticated Shadow Operations
These operations were executed with a level of sophistication that was shrouded in mystery. Mr X disclosed their use of burner phones, bought from a store in Sea Point. This strategy was intentionally used to escape law enforcement detection. These phones were used minimally and carefully to avoid attracting attention from law enforcement authorities.
Despite the aggression exhibited by the gangsters, their weaponry was not directly in their possession. A separate vehicle, loaded with firearms, followed the convoy. This smart move ensured the immediate availability of weapons if required, but also to circumvent potential police searches and ensuing legal complications.
This narrative is the foundation for a larger subplot – a saga of rivalry, treachery, and murder. The defendants, including Lifman, the alleged leader of the Sexy Boys gang, Jerome Booysen, a security firm owner, and several others, are accused of various crimes, including the murder of steroid dealer Brian Wainstein, with Mr X also implicated.
The Crime and Courtroom Drama
All the defendants maintain their innocence, but the shadow of crime looms large. Among the charges is the accusation of their collective involvement in criminal activities, set against the backdrop of a heated rivalry between Nafiz Modack and Colin Booysen, Jerome’s brother. The story takes a dramatic twist as Colin Booysen, initially an ally, switches his allegiance to Modack, sparking an aggressive power struggle over nightclub security.
Mr X, who started as a debt collector, eventually ventured into steroid sales for Wainstein before finding himself entwined with Lifman, Naude, Jerome Booysen, and others. His induction into the 27s, a gang allegedly rivaling the 26s, which Booysen is said to be a part of, signaled a significant shift in his underworld career.
The Show of Power and the Underworld
The tensions peaked when Lifman placed a bid on Modack’s property, which led to a tense confrontation. This spurred the Lifman-Booysen-Naude group to strategize reclaiming their club security territory – a plan that culminated with a significant meeting at 27s leader, Red Stevens’ house, where Lifman was introduced as a neutral party.
Their show of power was meticulously planned. On the evening of 8 April 2017, they convened at a Caltex garage in Sea Point, gearing up for a demonstration of power at popular spots such as the Coco Bar, Mavericks, and Club 31, previously overtaken by Modack and Colin.
Their tactics were straightforward yet impactful, park near the club’s entrance, exude an intimidating presence, approach the management, and convince them to change security allegiances. The targeted venues, popular nightlife destinations – Cubana, The Grand, Club 31, and Mavericks, in addition to Coco Bar, each felt their ominous presence.
Despite their carefully planned moves, the constant fear of police intervention was a persistent worry. On one occasion, a police officer’s intervention outside Mavericks resulted in that night’s activities being abruptly halted.
The day following, 9 April, two groups separately gathered near McDonald’s outlets in Sea Point and N1 City. Their aim was to reinforce their authority, but police interference led to dispersal and arrests. They retreated, reconvening at a pool bar in Durbanville to strategize their next move.
The ongoing trial serves as a lens into a tumultuous past, encapsulating a period in Cape Town’s history when nightclubs became the battlefield for underworld power struggles. The narrative, as narrated by Mr X, creates a vibrant image of a world where law and order succumb to the rule of the mightiest.
1. What was the 2017 nightclub scene in Cape Town like?
The 2017 nightclub scene in Cape Town was marked by fierce competition among security factions battling for control over the city’s vibrant club industry.
2. Who is Mr X, and why is he important to the ongoing trial in Cape Town?
Mr X is a witness who has been identified only by his pseudonym and is a key witness in the ongoing trial of Mark Lifman, Jerome Booysen, Andre Naude, and others. His account provides an inside look at the takeover of nightclub security in Cape Town’s Central Business District.
3. What were the shadow operations executed by the gangsters, and how were they carried out?
The shadow operations were executed with a level of sophistication that was shrouded in mystery. Mr X disclosed their use of burner phones, bought from a store in Sea Point. This strategy was intentionally used to escape law enforcement detection. Despite the aggression exhibited by the gangsters, their weaponry was not directly in their possession. A separate vehicle, loaded with firearms, followed the convoy.
4. What are the charges against the defendants in the ongoing trial?
The defendants, including Lifman, the alleged leader of the Sexy Boys gang, Jerome Booysen, a security firm owner, and several others, are accused of various crimes, including the murder of steroid dealer Brian Wainstein, with Mr X also implicated.
5. What was the show of power by the Lifman-Booysen-Naude group, and how did they execute their plan?
On the evening of 8 April 2017, the Lifman-Booysen-Naude group convened at a Caltex garage in Sea Point, gearing up for a demonstration of power at popular spots such as the Coco Bar, Mavericks, and Club 31, previously overtaken by Modack and Colin. Their tactics were straightforward yet impactful, park near the club’s entrance, exude an intimidating presence, approach the management, and convince them to change security allegiances.
6. What does the ongoing trial in Cape Town reveal about the city’s history?
The ongoing trial serves as a lens into a tumultuous past, encapsulating a period in Cape Town’s history when nightclubs became the battlefield for underworld power struggles. The narrative, as narrated by Mr X, creates a vibrant image of a world where law and order succumb to the rule of the mightiest.
