Warrant out on owner of illegal security company
A WARRANT for the arrest of millionaire businessman Mark Lifman has been issued by the Hawks.
Lifman, an allegedly key figure in underworld activities in the city, owns Specialised Protection Services (SPS), the new bouncer company controlling access to nearly 200 nightclubs across the Western Cape.
SPS is reportedly controlled by murdered security boss Cyril Beeka’s one-time rival, André Naudé, along with Lifman.
Beeka was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Bellville-South in March last year.
SPS allegedly also has links with Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, named in court as leader of the Sexy Boys gang from Belhar.
Lifman’s arrest follows a clampdown on the city’s bouncer industry.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut has confirmed that the Hawks had raided Lifman’s business property at 148 Main Road, Sea Point at about 10am yesterday.
SPS runs their security business from part of the premises.
Traut said no one had been arrested during the operation, but Lifman’s lawyer, William Booth, told the Cape Argus that a warrant for Lifman’s arrest had been issued.
“I’m in possession of the warrant of arrest,” said Booth today. “It refers to running a security company without a permit.
“It is highly unusual for police to issue a warrant for this kind of offence. The normal proceedure is for a person to be interviewed, or a summons issued… In my mind, it raises lots of questions around victimisation.”
Booth said his client was due back in SA only in about a fortnight. He is in China on busniess.
“I called my client immediately yesterday and we’re considering the matter,” he said of the arrest warrant.
Regarding the recent allegations that Lifman was a member of the “underworld”, as mentioned in numerous press reports, Booth said: “He wants to engage all the people who are making all these comments – the police and any other accusers – and wants to invite them to a debate on television, with regards to all these allegations, so the whole issue can be aired in public.”
SPS came under the spotlight when it emerged that most of its bouncers were not registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira).
Twelve bouncers working at The Assembly and The Loop nightclubs were arrested after a clampdown in the nightclub industry at the weekend.
The men were arrested for failing to register according to the Psira Act, by not being licensed as legitimate security services providers, but did not appear in court on Tuesday because the prosecution decided against placing the case on the court roll.
Lifman also owns The Loop nightclub in the CBD.