Lawyers representing five people accused of running a Mandrax syndicate along with alleged gang boss Jerome “Donkie” Booysen have withdrawn due to a lack of funds.
This was revealed at the Western Cape High Court on Friday as Booysen and his co-accused appeared for their pre-trial hearing after being busted by the Hawks in February.
Booysen along with Kenneth Hansen, Kristo Mariens, Clinton Langeveld, Jennen Jansen and Herbert Zoutman face 98 charges which include drug trafficking and charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
The group is accused of running the “Jerome Booysen Enterprise” between February 2013 and November 2017.
The court documents list three properties in Durbanville and Bellville where it alleges the Mandrax was smokkeled from as well as more than 90 properties in Kasselsvlei, Bellville and Glenhaven where it was believed the buttons were taken to.
Booysen was granted R30 000 bail while Hansen was released on R20 000 bail and the rest of the group were granted R5000 bail each at the Bellville Magistrates’ Court.
On Friday state prosecutor, Blaine Lazarus, informed Judge Gayaat Salie-Hlope that the five accused no longer had lawyers and would now apply for Legal Aid instead.
He said while Booysen would be represented by a private lawyer for the trial, the rest of the group were unable to give their lawyers financial instructions due to a lack of funds.
The case was postponed to 22 October.
Meanwhile, Booysen will return to the same courtroom next month alongside alleged underworld kingpin, Mark Lifman, as he is also charged with the murder of Brian “Steroid King” Wainstein.
The duo will appear alongside alleged members of the 27s gang who the state claims is behind a plot to kill Booysen’s brother, Colin, and alleged underworld rival Nafiz Modack.