After organised crime accused Mark Lifman's 2024 murder, stories did the rounds that he was linked to mining industry tensions, a sector where recent friction has involved former Gupta associates. Now, it has emerged that Lifman, via an alleged threat from a mining figure, is essentially connected to South Africa's law enforcement implosion.

Intimidation complaints and a high-level arrest recently rocked South Africa's mining sector.

Now, murdered Cape Town crime accused Mark Lifman's name has surfaced in this arena, connecting it to the country's staggering law enforcement scandal.

Lifman was synonymous with suspicions of organised crime in South Africa, had extensive troubles with the taxman and was believed to have been pivotal in nightclub security dominance battles.

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On Monday, 30 March 2026, Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala's business partner Mike van Wyk confirmed to Daily Maverick that he knew Lifman.

Matlala is at the centre of the law enforcement implosion, and Van Wyk's association with Lifman adds more layers to the scandal.

Van Wyk said he knew Lifman through the security industry in which he and Lifman were both involved.

'He protected me'

"When I was threatened by a mine person, he protected me a hundred percent," Van Wyk said.

"When he heard [about the threat], he jumped in and said, 'Nobody's going to touch you.' He was a fair man."

This, according to Van Wyk, happened about four years ago (which would mean about two years before Lifman was killed, and while Lifman was facing criminal charges).

Van Wyk declined to give details to...