Five men with alleged links to the notorious 27s gang in Cape Town, including a former anti-gang unit detective, appeared in the magistrate’s court on Tuesday on a series of charges related to the alleged takeover of nightclubs and the turf war that followed.
Burly bouncer boss André Naudé stood next to equally stout debt collector Sam Farquarson. Next to them were Jacobus “Mannas” Stevens, Egan Norman, and Sgt Wayne Henderson.
Jointly, the group faces 18 counts, ranging from conspiracy to commit public violence and intimidation, the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, corruption and money laundering.
Henderson is facing a corruption charge, and the state alleged he received a R100,000 bribe to help Matthew Breedt, one of the suspects accused of murdering Brian Wainstein, to evade prosecution.
The state alleged this group’s crimes that took place between April and November 2017 were done in common purpose and in furtherance of the 27s gang’s criminal activities across the Cape Town metropole.
Their arrests came after the group’s alleged leaders Mark Lifman, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen and William Stevens were nabbed on December 22.
Lifman is facing charges that he ordered a hit on Donkie’s brother Colin Booysen, a key figure in a rival group he allegedly runs with so-called underworld boss Nafiz Modack.
The state alleged Lifman’s hit list included Modack and Booysen’s associates Ashley Fields, Carl Lakay, Emile Goodley and even former Springbok rugby player James Dalton.
Lifman, Donkie and William Stevens also stand accused of murdering “Steroid King” and international fugitive Brian Wainstein in his Constantia home in August 2017.
Stevens was murdered outside his home in Kraaifontein on Tuesday last week.
The battle between the two underworld factions and their revolving alliances with criminal gangs from the Cape Flats and prison gang bosses are believed to have been behind the numerous murders of lawyers and alleged underworld figures since 2017.
Tuesday’s matter was postponed to May 12 after the five accused were released on bail.
Several more suspects are expected to appear in the Cape Town magistrate’s court on Wednesday.
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