Cape Town - Investigators probing the murder of alleged underworld kingpin Mark Lifman swooped on the head office of PPA Security on Thursday as they confiscated firearms.
Officers from the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) were spotted speeding along the N1 highway as they entered Northgate Island shortly after 10am.
According to a Cape Argus source, while at the PPA head office, police confiscated assault rifles that were allegedly not kept at the correct premises in terms of their firearm licences.
Police simultaneously descended on the home of a PPA employee in Table View, as they shut down Elphinstone Avenue.
It is understood police set their sights on the employee after it was revealed that the car driven by Lifman’s alleged killers, Johann Jacobs and Gert Bezuidenhout, had been spotted in Flamingo Vlei two days before Lifman was murdered.
Lifman, 57, was gunned down on November 3 at the Garden Route Mall in George. According to the source, police also discovered a stash of firearms at the home in Table View.
“They found a lot of guns at his house and it was all taken for ballistic tests to compare the guns with the bullets found in Mark’s body.”
During the raid, a man wearing a PPA T-shirt was seen leaving the house but it is unclear if he was arrested.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said at this stage police would not be releasing any information on the raids.
“It is part of ongoing police investigation and this office will not be divulging any further detail in this regard,” Pojie said.
This comes just a month after Lifman’s
closest friend, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, accused PPA’s Alwyn Landman of being behind the hit.
At the time, the company denied having any role in the murder.
Martin Hood of MJ Hood Attorneys confirmed a search warrant was carried out at the premises of PPA.
“PPA has at all times co-operated with SAPS, since shortly after the murder of Mr Lifman. I have been in communication with the investigating officer before and during the search, and have tendered full co-operation in the investigation.
“SAPS have removed some firearms for ballistic testing and supporting statutory documents such as registers and permit books. PPA respects SAPS obtaining a search warrant, which in their view was unnecessary because of previous co-operation with SAPS, but SAPS were within their rights to do so.”
Hood further said the two men charged with Lifman’s murder were not employed by PPA, but rendered a service for the company.
Hood confirmed the employee whose home was raided yesterday is employed by the company and is responsible for PPA’s firearms.
“PPA has no involvement in the murder of Mr Lifman, hence its ongoing co-operation with SAPS. It has nothing to hide. PPA remains fully operational,” said Hood.