New details about Mark Lifman’s murder continue to surface. Gunmen shot the notorious underworld figure in the parking lot of the Garden Route Mall in George.
Police arrested two suspects, Johannes Hendrik Jacobs and Gert Bezuidenhout, shortly after the killing. The two men appeared in court again this week.
The Murder Was Allegedly Planned for Months
According to IOL, the suspects allegedly spent six months planning the murder. A source revealed that they made several trips to the Garden Route to track Mark Lifman’s movements. They scouted the area and carefully planned their escape.
The source also shared that authorities tracked the vehicle used in the murder for several days before the shooting. The car was even spotted in Table View four days before the killing.
They Took Measures to Conceal Their Identities
The suspects came prepared to disguise themselves. They carried six sets of license plates, gloves, wigs, bras, and ammunition.
The suspects reportedly planned to dress as women to avoid being recognized. Their careful planning shows how thoroughly they organized the murder.
A R10 Million Bounty on Lifman’s Head
An associate of Mark Lifman revealed that someone placed a R10 million bounty on his life. The conflict that led to the murder reportedly started in March at a mine in Middelburg.
A businessman, allegedly high on drugs, got into a pub fight and threw Mark Lifman’s name around. This led to a dispute over the mine’s security contracts.
The Businessman Played a Key Role in the Conflict
The businessman reportedly wanted to take over the security contracts at the mine and he used his wealth and influence to escalate the tension.
The source claimed that the businessman offered R10 million for Mark Lifman’s murder to resolve the conflict. It remains unclear whether the businessman paid the bounty, but it clearly contributed to the violence.
Ties to the Murder of Brian Wainstein
At the time of his murder, Mark Lifman was out on R100,000 bail for the 2017 killing of Brian Wainstein, the “Steroid King.”
Along with co-accused Jerome “Donkie” Booysen and Andre Naude, Lifman faced charges related to Wainstein’s death. These connections underscore the dangerous underworld ties surrounding Lifman’s life and death.
Court Proceedings and Bail Hearing
In court, Magistrate Emma Moloro noted that the ID parade had not yet been completed and ordered a media ban until it was finished.
Defense lawyer Bulelanu Bans confirmed that he consulted with the families. The court postponed the case to December 12 and 13 for formal bail hearings.
Do You Think Mark Lifman Knew That He Had a Bounty On His Life?
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