Mark Lifman was gunned down on Sunday in George. File picture
Police in the Western Cape confirmed they have arrested two suspects for the murder of controversial businessman and alleged underworld kingpin, Mark Lifman.
The two suspects, who were arrested near Uniondale on Sunday, shortly after the murder are expected to appear in the George Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The Western Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed the incident.
“In collaborative efforts to respond to crime and arrest perpetrators thereof, two suspects were questioned and are now charged with the murder of a 57-year-old man outside the Garden Route Mall in George on Sunday morning. The pair, aged 37 and 53 were apprehended near Uniondale on Sunday afternoon and the vehicle they were travelling in was also confiscated,” Traut said.
“Their arrest follows a shooting incident that left the 57-year-old dead. After the suspects fled the crime scene, police, law enforcement officials, security companies, and crime watch groups were activated to be on the lookout for the suspects in the region. As a consequence, the pair was arrested a couple of hours later. The suspects are expected to appear in George Magistrates court on Tuesday morning,” he said.
Gunmen allegedly travelling in a VW Polo opened fire killing Lifman in the mall parking lot as he was heading to his vehicle.
Lifman, from Fresnaye along the Atlantic Seaboard, is usually heavily guarded by security but happened to be alone at the time of the shooting.
He was allegedly in George to play golf at Fancourt before his murder.
Lifman was set to return to the court on Monday, where he is on trial for the murder of slain steroid king Brian Wainstein along with several others.
Lifman and others are facing an array of charges linked to the murder of Wainstein and underworld clashes linked to nightclub security in Cape Town.
He is the fourth accused in the trial to be killed in recent years.
Shortly after the arrest of Lifman, Booysen and alleged 27s gang boss William “Red” Stevens were granted bail of R100,000. But in February 2021, Stevens was gunned down outside his home in Rembrandt Street, Kraaifontein.
A month later another accused Jason Maits was shot and killed while leaving his home in Westridge.
More than a year later another accused, Anthony Ameer van der Watt, was shot and killed while travelling along the M5 highway.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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