A restaurant manager who has accused underworld kingpins Nafiz Modack and Colin Booysen of extortion has admitted in court that he turned to their rival, controversial businessman Mark Lifman for help after their arrest.
On Monday, the trial resumed against Modack, Booysen, who is the brother of alleged Sexy Boys leader Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, Ashley Fields and Jacques Cronje in the Cape Town Regional Court.
They are accused of money laundering and extortion linked to a violent takeover of the Cape Town nightclub security industry.
The fifth accused in the matter, Carl Lakay, was murdered in August last year in the driveway of his Goodwood home.
The group was nabbed in December 2017 for allegedly trying to extort R369 000 from The Grand Africa Cafe and Beach near the V&A Waterfront.
That amount was reduced to R90 000.
The State’s first witness, brand manager Radley Dijkers, was back on the stand on Monday.
RIVAL: Lifman
Previously, he stated that he had no objection to becoming a section 204 witness.
This means that Dijkers is aware that he could implicate himself criminally if he testifies.
But he could also receive full immunity should the court find he was truthful throughout his testimony.
Dijkers admitted to setting up a meeting with Lifman to seek his protection.
It is alleged that Modack and his co-accused are trying to take over the nightclub security industry from an older security operation led by Lifman, Andre Naude and Donkie.
Dijkers admitted that he knew Lifman was a rival of the accused but went ahead with the meeting anyway.
The matter continues.