'Welcome to Deadfordview'

The upmarket suburb of Bedfordview used to be quiet and even quaint. But in the seven years since Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir moved in the area has become "crazy".

Bedfordview has been rocked by two assassination attempts and a fatal bomb blast - all allegedly linked to Krejcir - in the past three weeks.

"Since Radovan came here all the bad elements have come in," said a business owner whose company premises are close to Krejcir's Money Point, where a bomb killed two people and injured five late on Tuesday.

"We had to cancel all our appointments for Tuesday and [yesterday]," said the woman.

She said she has had to hire security guards to protect her staff and clients.

"We have had enough; it is time we came together and do something about it," she said.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: " Innocent people are being caught up in the middle of this. Whoever is involved and responsible has to be caught. Gangsters are not welcome here."

The resident, who has lived in the area for the past 15 years, said: "It only started happening when Krejcir moved here."

There have been an alarming number of assassination attempts in Bedfordview this year, some successful, some not. All have been linked by locals to the presence in their midst of Krejcir.

In July, what seemed to have been a hit on Krejcir failed when a set of 12 machine guns hidden behind the number plate of a VW Polo blasted his car. The weapons were triggered remotely. Krejcir survived the attack.

On November 2, 54-year-old Veselin Langanin, who has links to Krejcir, was gunned down in his home in Bedfordview.

In October, Sam Issa, also linked to Krejcir, was killed in a drive-by shooting. The Krejcir business premises at which a bomber struck on Tuesday is opposite a creche.

"They don't care about the rest of us," said one of the business owners, who said that people living in the area were afraid of being caught up in another gun battle or bombing.

Krejcir and his acquaintances are regularly seen at restaurants and coffee shops in the area.

"Restaurant owners have told me they get a heart attack when he walks in but they can't turn him away," said Michele Clarke, spokesman for community safety for the DA in Ekurhuleni. Clarke is also a resident of Bedfordview.

Employees at restaurants in the nearby Eastgate shopping centre, and at Bedford Centre, were ordered not to speak to the media.

At the Harbour restaurant in Bedford Centre, which Krejcir frequents, the police were called after reporters flocked to the venue.

Clarke said the "tit-for-tat executions" have a huge potential to affect property values.

"Residents are scared to walk their dogs in the evening, scared of getting caught in a bomb blast or a gang-related shooting. We feel we are under siege," she said.

Tanya Sakota, an estate agent, said the recent shootings and Tuesday's bombing had not immediately affected property prices.

"But it will put a damper on the industry in general. People want to buy in and live in a safe area."