Andr Naud, left, and Mark Lifman. Photo: Tracey Adams Andr Naud, left, and Mark Lifman. Photo: Tracey Adams
Cape Town - Making his way past the court benches, businessman André Naudé arrived at Cape Town Regional Court in a wheelchair for the fraud trial against him and his associate, Mark Lifman.
Naudé was recently wounded in a dramatic shoot-out in the streets of Bellville in which he was shot twice in his leg.
The two bouncer bosses, who own Specialised Protection Services (SPS), face more than 300 charges of fraud in contravention of the Private Security Industry Regulations Act for allegedly running the company illegally.
They are on bail of R1 000 each.
The embattled security company had at one stage controlled security - providing doorman or bouncer services - at about 200 entertainment venues across the city.
SPS is an amalgamation of two rival companies, one of which was previously run by slain underworld figure Cyril Beeka. The company was launched on November 1, 2011, but shut down in February 2012 when it emerged it was not registered. Lifman and Naudé were subsequently arrested.
It is the State’s case that they were found to be operating illegally because they were not registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira).
In the witness box on Monday, Philani Mthethwa, the deputy director at Psira, gave evidence. Psira regulates the security sector and monitors registered private security companies to ensure they continue to operate legitimately. It was the only authority that regulated the private security industry, the court heard.
He told the court the SPS’s application was not approved. “It was rejected,” he said.
During cross-examination, Rudi Krause, who represented both men, questioned Mthethwa on whether Naudé and Lifman had misrepresented to Psira that they were registered security service providers. Mthethwa said he did not remember them misrepresenting themselves.
Krause asked: “Did Mr Naudé at any stage attempt to persuade you he is registered?” Mthethwa replied: “He has not … I would have disputed the fact.” Krause asked the same of Lifman, but Mthethwa said he did not recall meeting Lifman.
“It would have been difficult for him to persuade me, having not met him,” Mthethwa said.
The matter is expected to continue on Tuesday.
natasha.prince@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
Related Topics: