Gert Bezuidenhout and Johannes Hendrik Jacobs appeal bail denial in Lifman murder case
Johannes Hendrik Jacobs, left, and Gert Bezuidenhout, in court for the murder of Mark Lifman. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
The two men accused of murdering slain underworld kingpin, Mark Lifman, have lodged an appeal in the Western Cape High Court against the denial of their bail.
As preparations are under way for the murder trial to be held in the George Regional Court, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has revealed the appeal by Gert Bezuidenhout and Johannes Hendrik Jacobs will be argued in the High Court next month.
Lifman died in a hail of bullets at the Garden Route Mall in George on November 3.
Shortly after his death, Lifman’s close friend, Jerome "Donkie" Booysen, publicly accused Alwyn Landman of PPA security of being behind the hit as they alluded to friendship links between him and Bezuidenhout.
NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said: "The bail appeal of Gert Bezuidenhout and Hendrik Jacobs, charged with the murder of Mark Lifman, will be argued at the high court on May 8. Their main case will be at George Magistrate's Court on May 6."
Slain Mark Lifman
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
At the time of the murder, PPA management explained that the duo had only done contract work for the popular security company and denied any involvement in Lifman’s murder.
An investigation undertaken by the Cape Argus sister publication, Daily Voice revealed Bezuidenhout is a trustee on a multi-million property trust registered as the AL Familie Trust.
Documents obtained by the publication show that Bezuidenhout and the PPA employee are both listed on the AL Familie Trust as trustees along with Landman and three others.
The documents also revealed that four properties are registered in the name of the trust in Dolphin Beach, Fresnaye and Constantia worth over R20 million.
In December last year, the Anti-Gang Unit raided the PPA premises in Northgate Island and cops confiscated firearms.
On the same day they also raided the home of a PPA employee in Table View.
Now it has been revealed that none of the firearms could be linked to the murder and since returned.
Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, said: "Be advised that the firearms cited in your enquiry were returned to the rightful owners following ballistic analyses performed on the firearms. The tests were negative in terms of linkages to any crime and therefore no need to dispose of the firearms but to return it’.
Cape Argus