Police are investigating the murder of alleged underworld ringleader Mark Lifman, who died in a hail of bullets at a mall in George on Sunday.

There were tongues in the shooting around 11.30am applaud About who could be behind the murder of the man who is at the center of many discussions in the underworld.

The shooters were armed with assault rifles and opened fire in broad daylight at the Garden Route Shopping Center as Lifman walked towards his double-cab bakkie in the car park, according to the Daily Voice source.

The source says: “They were driving a white VW Golf with cloned number plates. He was walking and they went towards him and shot at about five scots and he died at the scene.

“They ran away and the police noticed the license plate and started following the vehicle. That’s when they caught the two white males in Uniondale.

“It is unclear at this stage whether more people were involved, but Lifman had no protection around him at the time of his death.”

Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, one of Lifman’s closest friends, said he was stunned by the shooting.

An emotional Booysen tells the Daily Voice: “I really can’t speak.

“I know he goes golfing to George’s, but he never goes alone. I’m confused why he doesn’t have a bodyguard.”

Police spokesman Colonel Andre Traut confirmed the murder and said: “Western Cape SAPS responded to a shooting incident outside the Garden Route Shopping Center in George at around 11.30am this morning, where a 57-year-old man was killed by unknown assailants who fled the scene.”

Police have not yet confirmed if any arrests have been made.

Lifman, the controversial millionaire businessman from Fresnaye, was due to return to the Western Cape High Court today; where he and Booysen would face a number of charges, including murder.

In December 2020, the duo, along with slain 27s gang boss William “Red” Stevens, were arrested for the murder of “Steroid King” Brian Wainstein in 2017.

Stevens was shot dead near his home in Kraaifontein two months later, before the trial began.

According to the state case, Booysen, his brother Colin, Lifman and Andre Naude formed a “brotherhood” focused on nightclub security in Cape Town.

It is stated that in May 2016, a fight broke out between Colin and another person at the Coco Bar, and Colin complained that his brother was recruiting troublesome 27 gang members.

The split was apparently negotiated by Naude, with Colin leaving the fraternity and allegedly joining Nafiz Modack.

The documents state that Colin and Modack began taking over the clubs from Lifman and Jerome, leading to a fierce rivalry.

That same year, Lifman fell out with Wainstein over ownership and investments.

In July 2017, an unsuccessful attempt was made to kill alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, who was Wainstein’s alleged partner.

The state alleges Wainstein believed Lifman was behind the botched attack and planned to kill one of his bodyguards in retaliation.

Meanwhile, last week Lifman received a draft court order from the High Court to add former Beerhouse owner Randolf Jorberg’s Green Point property to an ongoing R1-million libel case.

Lifman was suing Jorberg for linking him to various crimes, such as the 2015 murder of Jorberg’s doorman on social media.